i 


FLEMISH  LEGENDS 


THE  CHURCH  OF  HAECKENDOVER  {page  40) 


FLEMISH  LEGENDS 

Sjr   CHARLES   DE   COSTER 

WITH  EIGHT    WOODCUTS    BY 
ALBERT    DELSTANCHE 


TRANSLATED  FROM  THE  FRENCH 
BY  HAROLD  TAYLOR 


FREDERICK  A.  STOKES    COMPANY 
NEW    YORK  PUBLISHERS 


PRINTED    IN    GREAT    BRITAIN 


CONTENTS 


500237 


I.  The  Brotherhood  of  the  Cheerful 

Countenance  i 

II.  The  Three  Sisters  31 

III.  Sir  Halewyn  43 

IV.  Smetse  Smee  ioi 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


The  Church  of  Haeckendover 

The  Little  Stone  Boy 

The  Man  in  White 

Sir  Halewyn  in  the  Wood 

The  Song  of  the  Head 

Smetse  caught  by  the  Two  Branches 

In  Smetse'' s  Garden 

The  Devil-King  and  the  Sack 


Frontispiece 
Facing  page        6 

64 
92 

108 
126 

150 


VU 


TRANSLATOR'S  NOTE 

THERE  never  was  a  book  which  needed  less  of  an 
introduction  than  this  one,  unless  it  is  that  it  should 
have  an  apology  from  the  translator  for  his  handhng 
of  so  beautiful  an  original.  But  since  so  little  is  generally 
known  of  these  Legends  and  their  author  a  word  of  informa- 
tion may  be  demanded. 

Charles  de  Coster  flourished  in  the  middle  part  of  the 
last  century.  He  was  brought  up  in  the  court  of  a  great 
dignitary  of  the  Roman  Church,  and  intended  for  the  aristo- 
cratic University  of  Louvain,  but  showed  early  his  inde- 
pendent and  democratic  turn  of  mind  by  preferring  the  more 
popular  University  of  Brussels,  to  which  he  made  his  own  way. 
Here  he  fell  in  with  a  group  of  fellow-students  and  artistic 
enthusiasts  which  included  Felicien  Rops,  with  whom  he  was 
associated  in  a  society  called  Les  Joyeux,  and  afterwards  in  a 
short-lived  Review,  to  which  they  gave  the  name  of  that 
traditional  Belgian  figure  of  joyousness  and  high  spirits, 
Uylenspiegel.  It  was  in  this  that  these  Legends  first  appeared, 
written  in  the  years  1856  and  1857,  ^^^  soon  afterwards 
published  in  book  form. 

Belgian  literature  was  not  at  that  time  in  a  very  flourishing 
condition,  and  little  general  appreciation  was  shown  of  de 
Coster's  work,  but  it  was  hailed  with  enthusiasm  by  a  few 
of  the  more  discerning  critics,  and  won  him  a  place  on  a 
Royal  Commission  which  was  investigating  mediaeval  state 
papers.  After  publishing  another  book,  Contes  brabangons, 
likewise  based  on  the  folk-lore  of  his  country,  he  seems  to  have 
withdrawn  into  himself  and  led  the  life  of  a  dreamer,  wander- 
ing about  among  the  peasants  and  burying  himself  in  the  wide 
countryside  of  Flanders,  until  he  had  completed  his  epic  of 
the  Spanish  tyranny,  Ulenspiegel,  which  has  already  been 
translated  into  English.  None  of  these  publications  brought 
him  any  material  recompense  for  his  work,  and  he  remained 

b  ix 


Translator  s  Note 

a  poor  man  to  the  end  of  his  Hfe,  in  constant  revolt  against 
what  he  called  the  horrible  poAver  of  money.* 

The  primitive  stuff  of  these  Legends  is  to  be  found  scattered 
up  and  down,  a  piece  here  and  a  piece  there,  in  the  folk-lore 
of  Brabant  and  Flanders.  De  Coster,  who  had  an  intense 
love  of  this  folk-lore  and  at  the  same  time,  as  he  said,  "  that 
particular  kind  of  madness  which  is  needed  for  such  writing," 
set  himiself  to  give  it  a  literary  form.  He  has  chosen  to  make 
that  form  so  elaborate,  and  has  worked  his  material  to  so 
fine  a  composition,  that  he  must  be  considered  to  have  pro- 
duced an  entirely  original  book.  But  he  has  not  been  un- 
faithful to  his  masters  the  people.  Sir  Halewyn,  for  instance, 
follows  an  old  song.  And  the  Faust-story  of  Smetse  Smee,  the 
jovial  and  ingenious  smith,  who  gets  the  better  of  his  bargain 
with  the  devil  in  so  wholly  satisfactory  a  fashion,  crops  up  in 
one  form  or  another  again  and  again. 

The  Legends  were  written  in  the  idiom  of  the  sixteenth 
century,  the  period  to  which  the  latest  and  longest  of  them 
roughly  belongs.  I  believe  that  no  more  perfect  example 
of  pastiche  exists  in  the  language.  But  that  is  not  of  much 
interest  to  English  readers,  and  I  have  made  no  attempt  to 
reproduce  the  achievement.  De  Coster  found  modern 
French,  with  its  rigidity  of  form,  unsuitable  to  his  subject  and 
inapt  to  his  genius.  He  seems  to  have  had  a  mind  so  perfectly 
in  tune  with  the  Middle  Ages  that  one  may  well  believe  that 
he  found  it  actually  more  natural  to  write  in  the  still  fluid 
language  of  Rabelais  than  in  that  of  his  own  day.  The  prose 
of  the  original  is  of  arresting  beauty,  especially  in  Sir  Halezvyn; 
which,  with  its  peculiarly  Flemish  tale  of  faery  and  enchant- 
ment, still  beauty  and  glowing  hearths,  and  the  sombreness  of 
northern  forests  brooding  over  them,  I  feel  to  be  the  high-water 
mark  of  his  achievement.  At  times  it  becomes  so  rhythmic 
that  one  can  hardly  decide  whether  it  is  prose  or  poetry. 
It  is  not  difficult  to  believe  Potvin's  report  that  de  Coster  spent 

♦   His  biography  has  been  written  by  Charles  Potvin.     Charles  de  Cosier; 
Sa  Biographie.     Weissenbruch ;   Brussels. 
X 


Translator  5  Note 

an  immense  amount  of  pains  on  his  work,  sometimes  doing  a 
page  twenty  times  over  before  he  was  content  to  let  it  go. 

De  Coster  has  been  spoken  of  as  a  mouthpiece  of  Pro- 
testantism. Protestant,  of  course,  is  the  last  word  in  the 
world  to  describe  him.  No  one  can  have  regretted  much 
more  than  he  the  passing  of  that  warm-hearted  time  before 
the  Reformation.  One  has  but  to  read  the  story  of  the 
building  of  the  church  at  Haeckendover  in  Tlhe  Three  Sisters, 
or  the  prayer  of  the  girl  Wantje  to  the  Virgin  in  the  tale  of 
the  hilarious  Brotherhood  to  see  how  far  this  is  true.  It  is 
only  in  Smetse  Smee,  when  he  comes  to  the  time  of  the  In- 
quisition, that  he  bursts  out  with  that  stream  of  invective 
and  monstrous  mockery  which  made  the  Pohsh  refugee 
Karski  say  of  him,  "  Well  roared,  Fleming !  "  And  even 
then  it  is  Spain  rather  than  Catholicism  which  is  the  centre  of 
his  attack,  and  Philip  II  who  is  his  aiming-point. 

Above  all  and  before  all  de  Coster  loved  the  simple  peasant- 
people  of  his  own  land,  with  their  frank  interest  in  good 
things  to  eat  and  good  beer  to  drink,  their  aptitude  for 
quarrelHng  and  their  great  hearts.  All  his  chief  portraits 
are  painted  from  them.  The  old  homely  nobility  of  Flanders, 
such  as  were  the  people  of  Heurne  in  the  tale  of  Halezuyn,  he 
liked  well  enough,  but  he  could  not  bear  a  rich  man  or  a 
distant-mannered  master  of  the  Spanish  type.  A  tale  is 
told  of  him  and  his  painter  friend  Dillens  which  may  well 
stand  as  the  key  to  his  work.  One  day  at  Carnival-time  they 
were  in  Ghent,  and  when  the  evening  came  Dillens  asked 
what  they  should  do.  "  Foir  le  peuple  !  "  cried  de  Coster, 
"  le  peuple  surtout !  La  bourgeoisie  est  la  mime  partout !  Va 
voir  le  peuple  !  " 

H.  T. 


xi 


THE  BROTHERHOOD  OF  THE 
CHEERFUL  COUNTENANCE 


THE  BROTHERHOOD  OF  THE 
CHEERFUL  COUNTENANCE 

/.  Of  the  sorrowful  voice  which  Pieter  Gans  heard  in  his  garden, 
and  of  the  flame  running  over  the  grass. 

IN  the  days  when  the  Good  Duke  ruled  over  Brabant, 
there  was  to  be  found  at  Uccle,  with  its  headquarters 
in  the  tavern  of  The  Horn.,  a  certain  Brotherhood  of  the 
Cheerful  Countenance.,  aptly  enough  so  named,  for  every  one 
of  the  Brothers  had  a  wonderfully  jolly  face,  finished  off,  as  a 
sign  of  good  living,  with  two  chins  at  the  least.  That  was 
the  young  ones  ;   but  the  older  ones  had  more. 

You  shall  hear,  first  of  all,  how  this  Brotherhood  was 
founded  : 

Pieter  Gans,  host  of  this  same  Horn.,  putting  off  his 
clothes  one  night  to  get  into  bed,  heard  in  his  garden  a  sorrow- 
ful voice,  wailing  :  "  My  tongue  is  scorching  me.  Drink  ! 
Drink  !     I  shall  die  of  thirst." 

Thinking  at  first  that  it  was  some  drunkard  below,  he 
continued  to  get  into  bed  quietly,  notwithstanding  the  voice, 
which  kept  crying  out  in  the  garden  :  "  Drink  !  Drink  ! 
I  shall  die  of  thirst."  But  this  persisted  so  long  and  in  so 
melancholy  a  manner  that  at  last  Pieter  Gans  must  needs  get 
up  and  go  to  the  window  to  see  who  it  might  be  making  so 
much  noise.  Thence  he  saw  a  long  flame,  of  great  brightness 
and  strange  upstanding  shape,  running  over  the  grass  ;  and, 
thinking  that  it  must  be  some  poor  soul  from  purgatory  in 
need  of  prayers,  he  set  about  repeating  litanies,  and  went 
through  above  a  hundred,  but  all  in  vain,  for  the  voice 
never  ceased  crying  out  as  before  :  "  Drink  !  Drink  !  I 
shall  die  of  thirst." 

After  cock-crow  he  heard  no  more,  and  looking  out  again 
he  saw  with  great  satisfaction  that  the  flame  had  disappeared. 

When  morning  came  he  went  straightway  to  the  church. 
There  he  told  the  story  of  these  strange  happenings  to  the 

3 


Fle^nish  Legends 

priest,  and  caused  a  fair  mass  to  be  said  for  the  repose  of 
the  poor  soul ;  gave  a  golden  peter  to  the  clerk  so  that  others 
might  be  said  later,  and  returned  home  reassured. 

But  on  the  following  night  the  voice  began  its  wailing 
anew,  as  lamentably  as  if  it  were  that  of  a  dying  man  hindered 
from  dying.     And  so  it  went  on  night  after  night. 

Whence  it  came  about  that  Pieter  Gans  grew  moody  and 
morose. 

Those  who  had  known  him  in  former  days,  rubicund, 
carrying  a  good  paunch  and  a  joyous  face,  wont  to  tell  his 
matins  with  bottles  and  his  vespers  with  flagons,  would  cer- 
tainly never  have  recognized  him. 

For  he  grew  so  wizened,  dried  up,  thin,  and  of  such 
piteous  appearance  that  dogs  used  to  start  barking  at  the 
sight  of  him,  as  they  do  at  beggars  with  their  bundles. 

//.  How  Jan  Blaeskaek  gave  good  counsel  to  Pieter  Gans,  and 
wherein  covetousness  is  sadly  punished. 

It  so  happened  that  while  he  was  moping  after  this 
fashion,  passing  his  days  in  misery  and  without  any  joy  of 
them,  alone  in  a  corner  like  a  leper,  there  came  to  the  inn  a 
certain  Master  Jan  Blaeskaek,  brewer  of  good  beer,  a  hearty 
fellow,  and  of  a  jovial  turn  of  mind. 

This  visitor,  seeing  Pieter  Gans  looking  at  him  nervously 
and  shamefacedly,  wagging  his  head  like  an  old  man,  went 
up  to  him  and  shook  him  :  "  Come,"  said  he,  "  wake  up, 
my  friend,  it  gives  me  no  pleasure  to  see  thee  sitting  there 
like  a  corpse  !  " 

"  Alas,"  answered  Pieter  Gans,  "  I  am  not  worth  much 
more  now,  my  master." 

"  And  whence,"  said  Blaeskaek,  "  hast  thou  gotten  all 
this  black  melancholy  ?  " 

To  which  Pieter  Gans  made  answer  :  "  Come  away  to 
some  place  where  none  will  hear  us.  There  I  will  tell  thee 
the  whole  tale." 

This  he  did.     When  Blaeskaek  had  heard  to  the  end  he 

4 


The  Brotherhood  of  the  Cheerful  Countenance 

said  :  "  'Tis  no  Christian  soul  that  cries  in  this  manner,  but 
the  voice  of  a  devil.  It  must  be  appeased.  Therefore  go 
thou  and  fetch  from  thy  cellar  a  good  cask  of  ale,  and  roll 
it  out  into  the  garden,  to  the  place  where  thou  didst  see  the 
flame  shining." 

''  That  I  will,"  said  Pieter  Gans.  But  at  vespers,  thinking 
to  himself  that  ale  was  precious  stuff  to  set  before  devils,  he 
put  instead  in  that  place  a  great  bowl  of  clear  water. 

Towards  midnight  he  heard  a  voice  more  sorrowful  than 
ever,  calling  out  :   "  Drink  !     Drink  !     I  shall  die  of  thirst." 

And  he  saw  the  bright  flame  dancing  furiously  over  the 
bowl,  which  was  suddenly  broken  with  a  loud  report,  and 
this  in  so  violent  a  manner  that  the  pieces  flew  up  against 
the  windows  of  the  house. 

Then  he  began  to  sweat  with  terror  and  weep  aloud,  say- 
ing :  "  Now  'tis  all  over,  dear  God,  all  over  with  me.  Oh, 
that  I  had  followed  the  advice  of  the  wise  Blaeskaek,  for  he 
is  a  man  of  good  counsel,  of  excellent  counsel !  Master 
Devil,  who  are  so  thirsty,  do  not  kill  me  to-night ;  to-morrow 
you  shall  drink  good  ale,  Master  Devil.  Ah,  'tis  ale  of  fair 
repute  throughout  the  land,  this  ale,  fit  for  kings  or  for  good 
devils  like  yourself  !  " 

Nevertheless  the  voice  continued  to  wail  :  "  Drink ! 
Drink  !  " 

"  There,  there  !  Have  a  little  patience.  Master  Devil ; 
to-morrow  you  shall  drink  my  best  ale.  It  cost  me  many 
a  golden  peter ^  my  master,  and  I  will  give  you  a  whole  barrel- 
ful.  Do  you  not  see  that  you  must  not  strangle  me  to-night, 
but  rather  to-morrow  if  I  do  not  keep  my  word." 

And  after  this  fashion  he  wept  and  cried  out  until  cock- 
crow. Then,  finding  that  he  was  not  dead,  he  said  his  matins 
with  a  better  heart. 

At  sun-up  he  went  down  himself  to  fetch  the  cask  of  ale 
from  his  cellar,  and  placed  it  in  the  middle  of  the  grass, 
saying  :  "  Here  is  the  freshest  and  the  best  drink  I  have  ; 
I  am  no  niggard.     So  have  pity  on  me,  Master  Devil." 

5 


Flemish  L,ege?icls 

111.  Of  the  songs,  voices,  mezvlings,  and  sounds  of  kisses  which 
Pieter  Gans  and  Blaeskaek  heard  in  the  garden,  and  of  the 
brave  mien  wherewith  Master  Merry-face  sat  on  the  cask  of 
stone. 

At  the  third  hour  Blaeskaek  came  down  and  asked  for 
news.  Pieter  Gans  toki  his  tale,  and  as  he  was  about  to  go 
away  again  drew  him  aside  and  said  :  "  I  have  kept  this 
secret  from  my  servants,  lest  they  should  go  and  blab  about 
it  to  the  priests,  and  so  I  am  as  good  as  alone  in  the  house. 
Do  not  therefore  leave  me,  for  it  may  happen  that  some 
evil  will  come  of  the  business,  and  'twould  be  well  to  have 
a  good  stomach  in  case  of  such  event.  Alone  I  should  cer- 
tainly have  none,  but  together  we  shall  have  enough  for 
both.  It  would  be  as  well,  then,  to  fortify  ourselves  against 
this  assault  on  our  courage.  Instead  of  sleeping  we  will  eat 
and  drink  heartily." 

"  For  that,""  said  Blaeskaek,  "  I  am  as  ready  as  thou." 

Towards  midnight  the  two  comrades,  tippling  in  a  low 
room,  fortified  with  good  eating,  but  not  without  some 
apprehension  nevertheless,  heard  the  same  voice  outside,  no 
longer  sorrowful,  but  joyous,  singing  songs  in  a  strange 
tongue  ;  and  there  followed  divers  sweet  chants,  such  as 
angels  might  sing  (speaking  with  proper  respect  to  them  all), 
who  in  Paradise  had  drunken  too  much  ambrosia,  voices  of 
women  celestially  soft,  mewlings  of  tigers,  sighs,  noise  of 
embraces  and  lovers'  kisses. 

"  Ho,  ho  !  "  cried  Pieter  Gans,  "  what  is  this,  dear  Jesus  ? 
They  are  devils  for  a  certainty.  They  will  empty  my  cask 
altogether.  And  when  they  find  my  ale  so  good  they  will 
want  more  of  it,  and  come  crying  every  night  and  shouting 
louder  than  ever  :  '  Drink  !  Drink !  '  And  I  shall  be 
ruined,  alas,  alas  !  Come,  friend  Blaeskaek  " — and  so  say- 
ing he  pulled  out  his  kuyf,  which  is,  as  you  may  know,  a 
strong  knife  well  sharpened — "  Come,  we  must  drive  them 
off  by  force  !     But  alone  I  have  not  the  courage." 

"  I  will  come  with  you,"  said  Blaeskaek,  "  but  not  until 
6 


THE  LITTLE  STONE  BOY 


The  Brotherhood  of  the  Cheerful  Countena7tce 

a  little  later,  at  cock-crow.  They  say  that  after  that  hour 
devils  cannot  bite." 

Before  the  sun  rose  the  cock  crew. 

And  he  had,  that  morning,  so  martial  a  tone  that  you 
would  have  thought  it  a  trumpet  sounding. 

And  hearing  this  trumpet  all  the  devils  suddenly  put  a 
stop  to  their  drinking  and  singing. 

Pieter  Gans  and  Blaeskaek  were  overjoyed  at  that,  and 
ran  out  into  the  garden  in  haste. 

Pieter  Gans,  hurrying  to  look  for  his  cask  of  ale,  found 
it  changed  into  stone,  and  on  top  of  it,  sitting  horseback 
fashion,  what  seemed  to  be  a  young  boy,  quite  naked,  a  fair, 
sweet  little  boy,  gaily  crowned  with  vine-leaves,  with  a  bunch 
of  grapes  hanging  over  one  ear,  and  in  his  right  hand  a  staii 
with  a  fir-cone  at  the  tip,  and  grapes  and  vine-branches 
twined  round  it. 

And  although  this  little  boy  was  made  of  stone,  he  had 
all  the  appearance  of  being  alive,  so  merry  a  countenance 
had  he. 

Greatly  alarmed  were  Gans  and  Blaeskaek  at  the  sight 
of  this  personage. 

And  fearing  both  the  wrath  of  the  devil  and  the  punish- 
ment of  the  Church,  and  swearing  together  to  say  no  word 
about  it  to  any  one,  they  put  the  figure  (which  was  but  a 
few  thumbs  high)  in  a  dark  cellar  where  there  was  no  drink 
kept. 

IV.  Wherein  the  two  worthy  men  set  out  for  Brussels^  capital 
city  of  Brabant.,  and.  of  the  manners  and  condition  of  Josse 
Cartuyvels  the  Apothecary. 

Having  done  so  much  they  set  out  together  for  Brussels, 
there  to  consult  an  old  man,  apothecary  by  trade,  something 
of  a  glutton,  but  liked  well  enough  by  the  common  folk  on 
account  of  a  certain  hotch-potch  he  made,  well  seasoned  with 
rare  herbs,  for  which  he  asked  a  not  unreasonable  price.  He 
was  reputed  by  the  devout  to  have  commerce  with  the  devil, 

7 


Flemish  Legends 

on  account  of  the  miraculous  cures  which  he  effected  in  both 
man  and  beast  by  means  of  his  herbs.  Furthermore,  he  sold 
beer,  which  he  bought  from  Blaeskaek.  And  he  was  hideous 
to  look  at,  gouty,  wizened,  yellow  as  a  guinea,  wrinkled  as 
an  old  apple,  and  with  carbuncles  on  his  neck. 

He  lived  in  a  house  of  mean  appearance,  in  that  part 
where  you  may  now  see  the  brewery  of  Claes  van  Volxem. 
Gans  and  Blaeskaek,  coming  thither,  found  him  in  his  kitchen, 
making  up  his  stews. 

The  apothecary,  seeing  Gans  in  such  a  piteous  melancholy 
state,  asked  him  if  he  had  some  ill  whereof  he  wished  to  be 
cured. 

"  He  has  nothing  to  be  cured  of,"  said  Blaeskaek,  "  save 
an  evil  fear  which  has  been  tormenting  him  for  a  week  past." 

Thereupon  they  told  him  the  whole  story  of  the  chubby- 
faced  image. 

"  Dear  God  !  "  said  Josse  Cartuyvels,  for  such  was  the 
name  of  this  doctor  of  stews,  "  I  know  this  devil  well  enough, 
and  will  show  you  his  likeness."  And  taking  them  up  to 
the  top  of  his  house,  into  a  small  room  which  he  had  there, 
he  showed  them  a  gallant  image  of  that  same  devil,  making 
merry  with  pretty  maids  and  gav  goat-foot  companions. 

"  And  what  is  the  name,"  said  Blaeskaek,  "  of  this  merry 
boy  ?  " 

"  I  have  no  doubt  it  is  Bacchus,"  said  Josse  Cartuyvels. 
"  In  olden  times  he  was  a  god,  but  at  the  giacious  coming 
of  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  " — here  all  three  crossed  themselves 
— "  he  lost  at  once  his  power  and  his  divinity.  He  was,  in 
his  time,  good  company,  and  more  particularly  notable  as 
the  inventor  of  wine,  beer,  and  ale.  It  may  be,  on  that 
account,  that  instead  of  hell  he  is  only  in  purgatory,  where 
no  doubt  he  has  become  thirsty,  and  by  God's  permission 
was  allowed  to  return  to  earth,  once  only,  no  more,  and 
there  sing  this  lamentable  song  which  you  heard  in  your 
garden.  But  I  suppose  that  he  was  not  allowed  to  cry  his 
thirst  in  countries  where  wine  is  chiefly  drunk,  and  that  he 


The  Brotherhood  of  the  Cheerful  Countenance 

came  accordingly  to  Master  Gans,  knowing  well  enough  that 
with  him  he  would  find  the  best  ale  in  all  Brabant." 

"  True,"  said  Gans,  "  true,  friend  Cartuyvels,  the  best  in 
the  duchy  ;  and  he  drank  up,  if  you  please,  a  whole  barrelful, 
without  paying  me  so  much  as  the  smallest  gold  piece,  nor 
silver,  nor  even  copper.  That  is  not  the  conduct  of  an 
honest  devil." 

"  Ah  !  "  said  Cartuyvels,  "  there  you  are  in  error,  and 
do  not  perceive  what  is  for  your  good  and  what  for  evil. 
But  if  you  will  take  the  advice  I  am  about  to  give  you,  you 
may  find  a  way  whereby  you  can  make  clear  profit  from  this 
Bacchus,  for  he  is,  you  must  know,  the  god  of  jolly  drinkers 
and  good  innkeepers,  and  I  am  disposed  to  think  that  he 
will  do  you  a  good  turn." 

"  Well,  then,"  asked  Blaeskaek,  "  what  must  we  do 
now  ?  " 

"  I  have  heard  that  this  devil  loves  warmth  and  sun- 
light. So  take  him  out,  first  of  all,  from  this  dark  cellar. 
Then  put  him  in  some  place  whither  the  sun  reaches,  such 
as  on  top  of  the  tall  press  which  stands  in  the  room  where 
your  customers  sit  and  drink." 

"  Sweet  Jesus  !  "  exclaimed  Pieter  Gans,  "  this  is  idola- 
try." 

"  In  no  wise,"  said  the  apothecary.  "  I  mean  only  this  ; 
that,  put  up  where  I  tell  you,  sniffing  the  good  smell  of 
stoups  and  flagons,  and  hearing  jolly  talk,  he  will  grow 
altogether  frolicsome  and  happy.  So  may  you  bring  Christian 
comfort  to  poor  dead  souls." 

"  But  if,"  said  Pieter  Gans,  "  the  priests  should  get  wind 
of  this  statue,  so  shamelessly  set  up  for  all  to  see  ?  " 

"  They  cannot  find  you  guilty  of  sin,  for  innocence  keeps 
nothing  secret.  You  will  show  this  Bacchus  openly  to  all 
your  friends  and  relatives,  and  say  that  you  found  him  buried 
under  the  earth  in  a  corner  of  your  garden.  Thus  you  will 
make  him  seem  an  ancient  relic,  as  indeed  he  is.  Only  take 
care  to  forget  his  name  when  you  speak  of  him  to  any  one, 

9 


Flemish  Legends 

and,  entitling  him,  as  in  jest,  Master  Merry-face,  use  this 
name  for  him  always,  and  institute  in  his  honour  a  jolly 
brotherhood." 

"  So  wc  will,"  answered  Pieter  Gans  and  Blaeskaek  to- 
gether, and  they  then  departed,  not  without  having  given 
the  apothecary  two  large  coins  for  his  trouble. 

He  did  his  best,  however,  to  keep  them  back,  so  that 
they  might  partake  of  some  of  his  heavenly  hotch-potch, 
but  Pieter  Gans  turned  him  a  deaf  ear,  saying  to  himself 
that  it  was  devil's  cooking,  unwholesome  for  a  good  Christian 
stomach.     So  they  left  him  and  set  out  again  for  Uccle. 

V .  Of  the  long  conversation  and  great  perplexity  of  Pieter  Gans 
and  Blaeskaek  in  the  matter  of  the  deviling ;  and  how  they 
returned  to  Uccle  with  a  resolution  taken. 

While  they  were  on  their  way  :  "  Well,  comrade,"  said 
Gans  to  Blaeskaek,  "  what  is  thy  opinion  of  this  apothe- 
cary ?  " 

"  A  dog  of  a  heretic  !  "  said  Blaeskaek,  "  a  heathen,  a 
despiser  of  all  good  and  all  virtue.  For  'twas  treasonable 
and  wicked  counsel  he  gave  us." 

"  True,  my  good  friend,  true.  And  is  it  not  besides  a 
great  heresy  to  dare  tell  us  that  this  deviling  on  his  cask  is 
he  who  invented  beer,  wine,  and  ale,  when  we  have  heard 
it  preached  every  Sunday  in  our  church  that  St.  Noah,  under 
the  instruction  of  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  " — here  both  crossed 
themselves — "  invented   these   things." 

"  For  my  part,"  said  Blaeskaek,  "  I  know  I  have  heard 
that  preached  above  a  hundred  times." 

Here,  seating  themselves  on  the  grass,  they  began  to 
refresh  themselves  with  a  fine  Ghent  sausage,  brought  by 
Pieter  Gans  against  such  time  as  they  should  feel  hungry. 

"  There,  there,"  said  he,  "  let  us  not  forget  the  Benedicite, 
my  friend.     So,  perhaps,  we  may  escape  burning.     For  'tis 
to  God  we  owe  this  meat  :    may  he  deign  to  keep  us  always 
in  his  holy  faith." 
lo 


The  Brotherhood  of  the  Cheerful  Countenance 

"  Amen^''  said  Blaeskaek  ;  "  but,  my  master,  between 
us  we  must  certainly  break  up  this  wicked  statue." 

"  He  who  has  no  sheep  fears  no  wolves,  'Tis  easy  enough 
for  thee  to  talk  comfortably  of  breaking  up  this  deviling." 

"  'Twould  be  a  deed  much  to  our  credit." 

"  But  if  he  come  back  again  to  wail  each  night  so 
piteously  :  '  Drink  !  Drink  ! '  And  if  he  turn  angry  with 
me  and  cast  spells  on  my  beer  and  my  wine,  and  make  me 
as  poor  as  Job  !  Nay,  better  follow  the  advice  of  the 
apothecary." 

"  Aye,  and  if  the  priests  learn  of  the  statue,  and  call  us 
both  before  the  tribunal,  and  have  us  burnt  as  heretics  and 
idolaters,  what  then  ?  " 

"  Ah,"  said  Gans,  "  here  are  the  good  God  on  the  one 
hand  and  the  wicked  devil  on  the  other,  fighting  over  our 
poor  bodies,  and  we  shall  be  pounded  to  nothing  between 
them,  alas,  alas  !  " 

"  Well,"  said  Blaeskaek,  "  let  us  go  to  the  good  fathers 
openly,  and  tell  them  the  whole  affair." 

"  AJas,  alas  !  We  shall  be  burnt,  my  good  master,  burnt 
without  mercy." 

"  1  believe  there  must  be  some  way  whereby  to  escape 
this  danger." 

"  There  is  none,  my  friend,  there  is  none,  and  we  shall 
be  burnt.     I  feel  myself  already  half  roast." 

"  I  have  thought  of  a  way,"  said  Blaeskaek. 

"  There  is  none,  my  friend,  there  is  no  way  whatever, 
unless  it  be  the  clemency  of  the  worthy  fathers.  Canst  see 
no  pilgrim  or  wandering  friar  on  the  road  ?  " 

"  None." 

"  If  we  see  such  a  one  we  must  give  him  all  our  sausage — 
have  we  said  our  grace  for  it  ? — and  all  the  bread  in  our 
wallet,  and  humbly  invite  him  into  our  house,  to  eat  a  quarter 
of  roast  lamb,  well  washed  down  with  old  wine.  I  have  not 
much  of  that  kind,  but  I  will  gladly  give  him  all  there  is  of 
it.     Canst  not  see  such  a  one  coming  ?  " 

II 


Flemish  Lege?tds 

"  No  one,"  said  Blaeskaek.  '"  But  open  those  rabbit's 
ears  of  thine  and  hark  to  me  :  I  will  give  thee  good  counsel, 
for  I  wish  thee  well,  blubberer.  We  must  follow  the  apothe- 
cary's advice  in.  half-and-half  fashion,  so  much,  only,  you 
understand.  'Twould  be  idolatry  of  the  most  shameless 
kind  to  put  up  this  statue  in  the  public  hall," 

"  Alas,  alas,  by  all  the  devils  !   yes,  you  are  right." 

"  Very  well,  then  we  will  put  him  in  a  cupboard,  which 
shall  be  well  fastened,  but  with  an  opening  on  the  top  to 
let  in  the  air.  Therein  we  will  also  put  a  small  keg  of  good 
beer,  and  ask  him  not  to  use  it  up  too  fast.  In  this  way 
he  will  be,  in  fact,  within  the  hall  of  the  inn,  and  he  will 
keep  himself  well  hid  for  certain,  for  in  his  cupboard  he  will 
be  able  to  take  what  pleasure  he  may  from  the  songs  of  the 
drinkers,  rattling  of  mugs,  and  clinking  of  bottles." 

"  No,"  said  Gans  to  that,  "  no,  we  must  follow  wholly 
the  apothecary's  advice,  for  he  knows  more  about  devils 
than  we.  xA-S  for  this  deviling,  we  will  do  our  best  to  satisfy 
him,  according  to  our  means.  But  in  spite  of  it  all,  I  fear 
we  shall  one  day  be  burnt,  alas,  alas  !  " 

FI.  Wherein  it  is  seen  that  the  devil  is  not  a  good  one  ;  and 
of  the  evil  trick  which  he  played  on  the  good  wives  of  the  drinkers. 

As  soon  as  they  reached  The  Horn^  the  two  worthies 
took  out  from  the  cellar  the  statue  of  the  deviling  and  put 
it  with  great  respect  on  top  of  a  press  which  stood  in  the 
hall. 

On  the  morrow  theic  came  to  this  inn  nearly  all  the  men 
of  Uccle,  brought  together  in  this  wise  because  on  that  day 
had  been  sold  publicly  in  their  stables  two  horses  well  bred 
by  the  late  sheriff,  Jacob  Nacltjens.  His  son  was  in  no 
mind  to  keep  them,  saying  that  a  man's  best  steeds  were  his 
slipper-shocs. 

The  men  of  Uccle  were  surprised  and  delighted  when  they 
saw  the  statue  of  the  youngster  on  the  press,  especially  when 
Blaeskaek  told  them  that  his  name  was  Master  Merry-face, 

12 


The  Brotherhood  of  the  Cheerful  Countenance 

and  that  it  was  proposed,  by  way  of  jest,  to  establish  forth- 
with in  his  honour  a  jolly  brotherhood. 

They  were  all  willing  to  do  this,  and  thereupon  decided 
between  them  that  no  one  should  be  of  their  brotherhood 
until  he  had  drunk,  as  his  baptism,  four-and-twenty  monstrous 
great  cups  of  wine,  while  another  brother  beat  twelve  strokes 
on  the  plumpest  belly  of  the  company  there  present. 

Each  night  thereafter  they  gathered  together  at  The 
Horn,  and  drank  deep  enough,  as  you  may  well  guess. 

The  most  wonderful  thing  about  the  business  was  that 
in  spite  of  this  they  worked  all  day  like  stout  fellows,  some 
at  their  crafts,  some  at  their  trades,  others  in  the  fielas, 
contented  one  and  all.  But  their  good  wives  were  not  by 
any  means  contented,  for  as  soon  as  vespers  sounded  all 
their  husbands  and  sweethearts  went  off  to  The  Horn^ 
without  giving  them  so  much  as  a  single  thought,  and  there 
stayed  until  curfew. 

And  when  these  worthies  went  home  they  did  not  beat 
their  wives,  as  some  drinkers  do,  but  lay  down  quietly  beside 
them  in  bed,  and  immediately,  without  saying  a  word,  fell 
fast  asleep  and  began  to  sound  such  fanfares  with  their  noses 
as  Master  Porker  makes  with  his  snout. 

Then  the  poor  women  might  thump  them,  cuff  them,  call 
their  names  as  they  would,  to  get  them  to  sing  their  bed- 
fellows a  different  sort  of  song,  but  all  quite  in  vain  :  as  well 
beat  water  to  get  fire  out  of  it. 

They  awoke  only  with  cock-crow,  but  their  temper  in 
the  morning  was  so  rough  and  stormy  that  none  of  their 
womenfolk  (that  is  to  say,  of  such  as  were  not  asleep  from 
weariness)  dared  say  a  word,  either  then  or  at  the  dinner- 
hour.  All  this  was  brought  about  by  the  evil  power  and 
influence  of  the  deviling. 

On  that  account  there  was  much  sadness  among  the 
women,  who  said,  all  of  them,  that  if  such  a  state  of  things 
went  on  for  long  the  race  of  the  people  of  Uccle  must  needs 
become  extinct,  which  would  be  a  great  pity. 

13 


Flemish  Legends 

VII.  Of  the  Great  Parliament  of  the  Women  of  Uccle. 

So  it  came  about  that  the  women  decided  between  them- 
selves to  save  the  village  from  this  fate,  and  to  this  end, 
while  their  menfolk  were  at  drink  with  Pieter  Gans,  they  met 
together  at  the  house  of  a  certain  dame  Syske,  who  was  big, 
fat,  loud-speaking,  had  hair  upon  her  chin,  and  had  buried 
five  husbands,  or  else  seven,  I  dare  not  particularize  the 
number  for  fear  of  untruth. 

There,  as  a  rebuke  to  their  drunken  husbands,  they 
quenched  their  thirst  with  clear  water. 

When  all  were  present,  the  younger  ones  assembled  on 
this  side  and  the  older  on  that,  the  ugly  ones  among  the 
older,  dame  Syske  opened  the  talk  by  saying  that  they  must 
all  go  forthwith  to  ^he  Horn,  and  there  give  these  drinkers 
such  a  drubbing  that  they  would  be  stiff  and  sore  for  a  week 
because  of  it. 

The  old  and  ugly  ones  applauded  this  proposal  with  their 
hands,  their  feet,  their  mouths,  and  their  noses.  There  was 
a  fine  noise,  you  may  well  believe. 

But  the  young  and  pretty  ones  kept  silent  as  fishes,  all 
save  one,  very  pretty,  very  fresh  and  very  neat,  bearing  the 
name  of  Wantje,  who  said  very  modestly,  and  blushing  some- 
what, that  it  was  of  no  use  to  belabour  their  worthy  men  in 
this  fashion,  but  rather  they  must  bring  them  back  to  good 
ways  by  gentleness  and  laughter. 

To  this  the  dame  Syske  replied  :  "  Little  one,  thou  canst 
understand  nothing  of  men,  for  thou  art  but  a  maid,  or  so 
I  believe.  For  my  part  I  know  well  enough  how  I  managed 
my  several  husbands,  and  that  was  neither  by  gentleness  nor 
by  laughter,  I  promise  thee.  They  are  all  dead,  the  worthy 
men  (may  God  rest  their  souls!),  but  I  remember  them 
clearly,  and  know  very  well  that  at  the  least  wrongdoing  I 
made  them  dance  the  stick-dance  on  the  field  of  obedience. 
None  dared  eat  or  drink,  sneeze  or  yawn,  unless  I  had  first 
given  him  leave.  Little  Job  Syske,  my  last,  did  my  cooking 
for  me  in  my  own  house.     He  made  a  good  cook,  poor  little 


The  Brotherhood  of  the  Cheerful  Coimtenance 

man.  But  I  had  to  give  him  many  good  beatings  to  bring 
him  to  that,  and  so  it  was  with  the  others  as  well.  There- 
fore, little  one,  give  up  all  these  laughters  and  gentlenesses 
of  thine,  they  are  not  worth  much,  I  can  tell  thee.  Let  us 
rather  go  forthwith  and  cut  ourselves  good  staves  of  green- 
wood, easy  enough  to  find  now  that  it  is  spring-time,  and 
going  off  to  The  Horn  let  us  make  fall  a  good  shower  of 
blows  on  these  unfaithful  husbands. 

At  this  the  old  and  ugly  ones  broke  out  afresh  into 
monstrous  howls  and  tumult,  crying,  "  Out  upon  them  !  out 
on  the  drunkards  !  They  want  a  good  drubbing,  they  want 
a  good  hanging  !  " 

VIII.  Of  the  great  wit  which  every  woman  has^  and,  of  the 
modest  conversation  which  the  maid  Wantje  held  with  the 
worthies  at  the  inn. 

On  the  morrow  all  these  good  women  met  together  once 
again,  and  drank  as  before  a  great  quantity  of  clear  water  ; 
and  afterwards  went  off,  armed  with  sticks,  to  the  place 
where  they  knew  their  men  were  to  be  found. 

Before  the  door  of  The  Horn  they  stopped,  and  there 
a  great  council  took  place.  The  old  ones  wanted  to  go  in 
with  their  sticks. 

"  No,"  said  Wantje,  with  the  young  and  pretty  ones, 
"  we  would  rather  be  beaten  ourselves." 

"  Hark  to  these  sillies  !  "  cried  the  old  ones,  "  these  poor 
silly  things.  They  have  not  an  ounce  of  pride  in  their  bodies, 
between  the  lot  of  them.  Be  guided  by  us,  gentle  ewekins  : 
we  will  avenge  the  dignity  of  women  for  you  upon  these 
wretched  drunkards." 

"  That  you  shall  not,"  said  the  young  ones,  "  as  long  as 
we  are  there." 

"  That  we  shdl,"  howled  the  old  ones. 

But  here  a  certain  young  and  merry  wife  burst  out 
laughing. 

"  See  ye  not/'  said  she,  "  whence  comes  to  these  grannies 

15 


Flemish  Legends 

so  great  a  rage  and  such  a  thirst  for  vengeance  ?  'Tis  simple 
bragging,  to  make  us  beheve  that  their  old  croakers  of 
husbands  still  care  to  sing  them  songs." 

At  these  words  the  old  hags  were  thrown  into  such  a 
state  of  fury  that  one  or  two  died  of  rage  there  and  then. 
Others,  having  quite  lost  their  heads,  wanted  to  kill  the 
maids  and  young  wives  who  were  laughing  at  them  (and 
'twas  pretty  music,  all  those  fresh  and  merry  voices),  but 
the  dame  Syske  stopped  them  from  that,  saying  that  for 
the  present  they  must  take  counsel  together  and  not  kill 
one  another. 

Continuing  their  discussion,  they  quarrelled,  argued, 
chattered,  jabbered  in  this  and  like  fashion  until  curfew- 
time,  when  they  separated  without  having  made  up  their 
minds  to  anything,  by  reason  of  not  having  had  time  enough 
to  talk  it  over. 

And  there  were  spoken  in  this  assembly  of  women  more 
than  877,849,002  words,  each  one  as  full  of  good  sense  as  a 
cellarful  of  old  wine. 

Pieter  Gans,  who,  as  they  said,  had  rabbit's  ears,  hearing 
in  the  street  a  certain  hum  of  chattering  voices,  cried  out  : 
"  Alas,  alas  !  what  is  this  now  ?  Devils  for  a  certainty, 
dear  Jesus  !  " 

"  I  will  go  and  see,  little  coward,"  answered  Blacskaek. 
But  on  opening  the  door  he  burst  out  laughing  all  at  once, 
saying  :    "  Brothers,  'tis  our  wives." 

Thereupon  all  the  drinkers  rose  and  went  to  the  door  ; 
some  with  bottles  in  their  hands,  others  brandishing  flagons, 
others  again  clinking  their  mugs  together  like  church  bells. 
Blaeskaek  went  out  of  the  room,  crossed  the  threshold  of  the 
outer  door,  and  stepped  into  the  street. 

"  Well,  wives,"  said  he,  "  what  brings  you  here  with  all 
this  greenwood  ?  " 

At  these  words  the  young  ones  let  fall  their  sticks  to  the 
ground,  for  they  were  ashamed  to  be  caught  with  such  weapons. 

But  one  old  woman,  brandishing  hers  in  the  air,  answered 
16 


The  Brotherhood  of  the  Cheerful  Countena7tce 

for  the  others  :  "  We  come,  drunkards,  to  tell  you  the  tale 
of  the  stick,  and  give  you  a  good  thrashing." 

"  Woe,  woe  !  "  wept  Pieter  Gans,  "  that,  I  know,  is  my 
grandmother's  voice." 

"  So  it  is,  scoundrel,"  said  the  old  woman. 

Meanwhile  the  Brothers  of  the  Cheerful  Countenance, 
hearing  all  this,  shook  their  sides  merrily  with  laughing,  and 
Blaeskaek  said  :  "  Then  come  in,  come  in,  good  wives,  and 
let  us  see  how  you  do  your  drubbing.  Are  those  good  green- 
wood staves  you  have  brought  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  they. 

"  I  am  glad  of  that.  For  our  part  we  have  ready  for 
you  some  good  rods,  well  pickled  in  vinegar,  which  we  use 
for  whipping  disobedient  boys.  'Twill  doubtless  give  you 
all  sweet  pleasure  to  feel  their  caresses,  and  so  recall  the 
days  of  your  youth.  Will  you  be  pleased  to  try  them  ?  We 
will  give  you  plenty." 

But  at  these  scoffing  words  the  old  women  took  fright 
and  ran  off  as  fast  as  their  legs  would  carry  them,  more 
particularly  mother  Syske,  making  such  terrible  threats  and 
noises  as  they  went  that  they  sounded  to  those  jolly  Brothers 
like  a  flight  of  screeching  crows  passing  down  the  deserted 
streets. 

The  young  ones  stayed  before  the  door  of  the  inn,  and 
'twas  affecting  to  see  them  so  humbly  standing,  gentle  and 
submissive;,  waiting  for  some  kindly  word  from  their  husbands 
or  sweethearts. 

"  Well,"  said  Blaeskaek,  "  do  you  please  to  come 
in  .?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  they  all. 

"  Keep  them  out,"  said  Pieter  Gans  into  Blaeskaek's 
ear,  "  keep  them  out,  or  they  will  go  chattering  to  the 
priests  about  the  deviling,  and  we  shall  be  burnt,  my  good 
friend." 

"  I  am  deaf,"  said  Blaeskaek ;  "  come  in,  my  dears." 

Thereupon  entered  all  these  good  women,  and  took  up 

B  17 


Flemish  Lege?jcls 

their  places,  some  by  their  husbands,  others  by  their  sweet- 
hearts, and  the  maids  in  a  hne  on  a  bench  modestly. 

"  Women,"  said  the  drinkers,  "  you  wish  to  join  us  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  they. 

"  And  to  drink  also  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  they. 

"  And  have  not  come  here  to  tell  us  temperance  stories  ?  " 

"  Nay,"  said  they,  "  we  have  come  without  any  other 
wish  than  to  join  our  good  husbands  and  sweethearts,  and 
laugh  with  them,  if  that  may  be,  with  God's  good  will." 

"  Those  are  certainly  fair  words,"  said  one  old  man,  "  but 
I  suspect  beneath  them  some  woman's  artifice  or  other." 

But  no  one  paid  him  any  heed,  for  by  this  time  the  women 
were  seated  all  about  the  table,  and  you  might  hear  this  : 
"  Drink  this,  pretty  sweet,  'tis  a  draught  from  heaven." 
"  Pour,  neighbour,  pour,  pour  out  some  more  of  this  sweet 
drink."  "  Who  is  a  better  man  than  I  ?  I  am  the  Duke  ; 
I  have  good  wine  and  good  wife  !  "  "  Ho,  there  !  broach 
a  fresh  cask  of  wine  ;  we  must  have  the  best  there  is  to-day 
to  pleasure  these  good  dames."  "  Courage  !  I  have  drunk 
too  much  ;  I  am  going  to  conquer  the  moon.  But  wait  a 
little  first.  For  the  present  I  stay  by  this  good  wife  of  mine. 
Kiss  me,  sweet." 

"  This  is  not  the  place,  before  all  these  people,"  the 
women  would  answer.  And  with  many  caresses  and  pretty 
ways  each  said  to  her  man  :   "  Come  away  home." 

They  would  indeed  have  been  glad  enough  to  go,  all  those 
good  drinkers,  but  did  not  dare  do  it,  being  shamefaced  in 
this  matter  in  one  another's  presence. 

Guessing  as  much,  the  women  talked  of  going  back. 

"  There,  there  !  "  said  the  old  man,  "  is  not  that  what 
I  said.     They  want  to  have  us  outside." 

"  Nay,  my  masters,"  said  Wantje  very  sweetly,  "  but  I 
pray  you  remember  that  we  arc  not  accustomed  to  such 
strong  drinks,  nor  even  to  their  smell.  Therefore,  master, 
if  we  feel  the  need  to  go  out  into  the  fresh  air  'tis  assuredly 
i8 


The  Brotherhood  of  the  Cheerful  Countenance 

without  wanting  to  anger  or  sadden  you  in  any  way  what- 
soever.    May  God  keep  you  merry,  brothers." 

And  thereupon  the  good  women  went  off,  though  the 
men  tried  to  keep  them  back  by  force. 

IX.  Wherein  it  is  seen  that  the  learned  Thomas  a  Klapperibus 
knew  what  makes  a  drinker  fidget  on  his  stool. 

Left  thus  to  their  pots  and  tankards  they  turned  to  one 
another  in  wonder,  saying  :  "  Ah,  look  ye  at  these  dames  ! 
Does  it  not  always  fall  out  in  this  wise  ;  that  they  would 
have  us  do  whatever  they  bid,  and  that  with  humility  ! 
Submissive  they  seem,  tyrants  they  are.  But  look  ye,  is  it 
to  male  or  female  that  belongs  properly  the  right  of  command 
in  all  matters  ?  To  the  male.  We  are  the  males.  Very 
well,  then,  let  us  drink  !  And  we  will  at  all  times  carry  out 
our  own  wishes,  which  will  presently  be  to  sleep  here  in  this 
inn,  if  we  please." 

After  this  fashion  they  talked  together  for  some  time, 
feigning  great  anger,  but  being,  in  fact,  eager  enough  to  go 
and  join  their  wives.  By  and  by  they  fell  silent,  and  so 
remained  for  a  while,  some  yawning,  others  drumming 
tunes  on  the  floor  with  their  boots,  others  again,  and  these 
many,  fidgeting  on  their  seats,  as  if  they  were  on  sharp 
thorns. 

Suddenly  a  young  townsman,  but  lately  married,  got  up 
and  left  the  hall,  saying  that  by  the  advice  of  a  leech  he  was 
forbidden  to  drink  more  than  six-and-twenty  mugs  of  ale, 
which  number  he  had  already  taken. 

After  he  had  gone  they  all  began  to  excuse  themselves, 
one  with  a  pain  in  his  stomach,  another  with  a  headache, 
others  with  a  melancholy  feeling  or  with  the  phlegm,  and 
made  off  to  their  homes,  excepting  only  one  or  two  among 
the  older  men. 

And  when  they  were  once  outside  they  hurried  with  all 
speed  to  join  their  wives.  Thus  was  borne  out  what  was 
written  by  the  learned  Thomas  a  Klapperibus  in  his  great 

19 


Flemish  Legends 

work  De  Amore,  c.  vi,  wherein  it  is  said,  that  woman  has 
more  power  than  the  devil. 

X.  Of  the  brigand  called  Irontooth. 

But  this  thing  never  happened  but  once  ;  for  on  the 
morrow  when  the  drinkers  were  carousing  at  The  Horn 
the  good  women  who  came  thither  to  entice  them  awav  a 
second  time  were  driven  off  in  a  shameful  manner. 

And  as  for  the  men,  they  continued  to  drink  and  to 
shout  hilarious  carols. 

Several  times  the  night-watchman  of  the  town  came  in 
to  warn  them  against  making  so  much  noise  after  the  sun 
was  set.  Ha,  they  listened  to  him  with  all  respect,  and 
seemed  quite  abashed  and  repentant  at  their  fault ;  each 
one  said  his  mea  culpa  ;  and  in  the  meantime  they  gave  the 
poor  watchman  so  abundantly  to  drink  that  when  he  got 
outside  he  went  off  straight  away  to  do  his  round  leaning 
against  some  wall,  and  there  snoring  like  a  bass-viol.  The 
others  continued  their  drinking  bouts  and  heavy  slumbering, 
whereof  the  unhappy  wives  never  ceased  to  complain.  And 
so  on,  in  this  fashion,  for  a  month  and  four  days. 

Now  by  great  misfortune  the  good  Duke  had  lately  been 
at  war  with  my  Lord  of  Flanders,  and  although  peace  had 
been  made  between  them  there  remained  afoot  a  band  of 
lewd  and  ribald  scoundrels,  who  went  about  ravishing  all 
the  countryside  and  robbing  the  townsfolk. 

This  same  band  was  commanded  by  a  savage  captain, 
to  whom  was  given  the  name  of  Irontooth,  because  on  the 
top  of  his  casque  he  wore  a  single  spike,  sharp  and  cruel, 
like  the  tooth  of  some  devil  or  of  one  of  the  unicorns  of  hell, 
cut  out  into  fantastic  shape.  In  battle  he  would  sometimes 
put  down  his  head  and  use  this  tooth  as  a  wild  boar  uses 
his  tusks.  In  this  manner  were  slain  many  brave  soldiers 
of  the  duchy  of  Brabant.  On  this  same  casque  he  carried 
also  an  evil  bird  whose  wings  beat  against  the  steel,  whereof 
it  was  said  that  it  screeched  in  battle  in  a  terrible  fashion. 

20 


The  Brotherhood  of  the  Cheerful  Counte7ta7ice 

It  was  Irontooth's  custom  to  come  at  night  to  the  villages 
on  which  he  was  minded  to  carry  out  his  forays,  butchering 
without  mercy  the  poor  townsfolk  in  their  sleep,  and  carrying 
off  jewels,  plate,  women,  and  maids,  but  of  these  last  only 
the  young  ones.  As  for  the  old  women,  he  left  them  their 
lives,  saying  that  it  was  not  worth  the  while  of  killing  them, 
for  they  would  certainly  die  of  fright  by  themiselves. 

XI.  In  which  it  is  seen  hozv  bravely  the  good  wives  of  Uccle  did 

the  duty  of  men. 

It  came  about  that  one  night  when  only  a  few  stars  were 

showing,  and  the  moon  shining  a  little,  there  came  to  Uccle 

a  certain  Master  Andre  Bredael,  running  as  hard  as  he  could 

and  auite  out  of  breath. 
.1 

He  brought  this  news  :  that  being  by  chance  behind  a 
bush  on  the  road  to  Paris,  he  had  seen  a  troop  of  men  go 
past,  whom  he  thought  to  be  the  Irontooth's,  for  he  had  seen 
among  them  a  spiked  casque  like  that  which  the  great  brigand 
was  wont  to  wear. 

While  these  men  were  halted  by  the  roadside,  and  munch- 
ing some  food,  he  overheard  them  say  that  they  were  bound 
that  night  for  Uccle,  where  they  hoped  to  get  good  sport 
and  fair  plunder,  but  they  said  also  that  they  must  leave 
the  high  road  and  travel  by  small  lanes,  so  that  their  passage 
should  not  be  discovered.  Master  Bredael  thought  it  most 
likely  that  they  would  debouch  behind  the  church. 

Having  learned  so  m^uch  he  had  hurried  to  Uccle  by  the 
Paris  road,  outdistancing  the  brigands  by  a  good  half-league, 
so  that  he  might  warn  the  townsmen  to  arms,  and  prepare 
a  strong  reception  for  these  unwelcome  travellers. 

And  arriving  there  he  hastened  to  the  door  of  the  prefec- 
ture and  knocked  loudly,  so  that  the  warning  bell  might  be 
set  ringing  at  once  ;  but  none  came  to  open  to  him,  for  the™ 
good  reason  that  the  custodian,  being  one  of  the  Brothers  of 
the  Cheerful  Countenance,  was  fast  asleep,  like  all  the  other 
drinkers.     Andre  Bredael  then  sought  other  means  of  alarum, 

21 


Flemish  Legends 

and  shouted  out  so  loudly  :  "Fire!  fire!  Brand  I  brand!'''' 
that  all  the  women  and  old  men,  and  children  who  were  too 
young  to  drink,  leapt  out  of  bed  and  ran  to  their  windows 
to  see  what  was  going  forward. 

Andre  Bredael  made  himself  known  to  them  and  begged 
them  to  come  down  into  the  square,  which  they  did  with  all 
dispatch.  When  they  were  all  gathered  round  him  he  told 
them  of  the  coming  of  Irontooth,  and  bade  them  go  and 
wake  their  husbands. 

At  these  words  the  older  women  began  to  shout  as  if 
mad  :    "  Welcome  to  Irontooth,  God's  tooth  in  good  deed, 
come  to  rip  them  all  open  !     Ha,  drinkers  !    now  we  shall 
see  you,  as  a  punishment  from  heaven,  either  hanged  short 
or  burnt    alive    or    drowned  without  respite  ;    and  'tis  no 
more  than  your  sins  deserve  !  "     Then,  as  if  they  had  wings 
to  their  feet,  they  flew  into  their  houses,  and  there  Master 
Bredael,  who  stayed  with  the  younger  women  in  the  square, 
heard    the    enraged    old   hags    shouting,    whining,    weeping, 
vociferating,    thumping   on    chests    and    frying-pans,    in   an 
attempt  to  awaken  their  good  men.     At  the  same  time  they 
cried  in  their  ears  :    "  Scoundrels,  wake  up  !     Sweet  friends, 
come  and  protect  us  !     Drunkards,  do  your  duty  for  once 
in  your  accursed  lives  !     Dear  fellows,  do  you  wish  to  find 
us  dead  by  morning  ?     Bear  us  no  malice  for  our  talk  of 
thrashing  you.     We  were  foolish  just  then,  and  too  hasty  ; 
ye  were   wise.     But   save   us   in   this   pass  !  "     And   so   on, 
mixing   together   smooth   and   bitter   words,   like   milk   and 
vinegar. 

But  none  of  the  men  stirred. 
"  What  is  this  ?  "  said  Master  Bredael. 
"  Alas,   master,"   said   the  young  women,   "  'tis  as  you 
see  ;    they  are  as  good  as  dead  the  night  through,  and  so 
has  it  been  a  while  past.     If  the  angel  of  God  himself  were 
to  come  he  would  scarce  be  able  to  rouse  them.     Ah,  must 
it  be  that  after  having  left  us  lonely  so  long  these  wicked 
husbands  will  now  leave  us  to  die  !  " 
22 


The  Brotherhood  of  the  Cheerful  Counte?tance 

"  Do  not  weep,"  said  Andre  Bredael,  "  this  is  no  time 
for  that.     Do  you  love  these  husbands  of  yours  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  they. 

"  And  your  sons  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  they. 

"  And  your  Httle  daughters,  so  sweet  and  winsome  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  they. 

"  And  you  are  ready  to  defend  them  as  best  you  can  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  they. 

"  Well,  then,"  said  Bredael,  "  go  and  fetch  your  men's 
bows  and  come  back  here  with  them  as  quickly  as  you  can. 
We  will  think  of  some  way  to  defend  ourselves." 

Soon  enough  the  women  were  back  again,  armed  with 
bows  which  they  had  taken  from  their  husbands,  brothers, 
or  sweethearts.  These  bows  of  Uccle  were  of  great  renown 
throughout  the  land,  for  they  were  as  strong  as  steel,  and 
winged  their  arrows  with  very  great  speed. 

With  them  came  certain  boys  of  twelve  years  old,  or  not 
much  more,  and  one  or  two  brave  old  men,  but  the  women 
sent  them  back  again  indoors,  saying  that  they  must  stay 
behind  and  look  to  the  village. 

The  good  womenfolk  then  collected  in  a  bunch  in  the 
square,  talking  with  great  ardour  and  courage,  but  not  too 
much  bragging  withal.  Every  one  was  clad  in  a  white  gown, 
jacket,  or  shift,  as  is  the  customary  night  apparel  of  women. 
But  on  this  occasion  it  was  by  the  special  favour  of  God  that 
they  were  so  clad,  as  you  shall  see  by  and  by. 

Wantje,  who  was  one  of  their  number,  standing  very  bold 
and  calm,  said  suddenly  that  they  must  pray.  Thereupon 
they  all  knelt  devoutly,  and  the  maid  spoke  thus  : 

"  Madam  Mary  the  Virgin,  who  art  queen  of  heaven  as 
Madam  the  Duchess  is  queen  of  this  country,  give  an  ear 
to  these  poor  wives  and  maids,  humbly  kneeling  before  you, 
who  by  reason  of  the  drunkenness  of  their  husbands  and 
brothers  must  needs  take  on  themselves  men's  duty  and  arm 
themselves  to  fight.     If  you  will  but  make  a  small  prayer 

23 


Flemish  Lege?ids 

to  My  Lord  Jesus  to  give  us  his  aid  we  shall  be  sure  enough 
of  victory.  And  wc  will  give  you  as  thanksgiving  a  fair 
crown  of  gold,  with  rubies,  turquoises  and  diamonds  in  its 
rim,  a  fair  golden  chain,  a  fair  robe  of  brocade  spangled 
over  with  silver,  and  the  same  to  My  Lord  your  son.  There- 
fore pray  for  us.  Madam  Mary." 

And  all  the  other  good  maids  and  wives  said  after  Wantje  : 
"  Pray  for  us,  Madam  Mary." 

Suddenly,  as  they  were  rising  from  their  knees,  they  saw 
a  beautiful  bright  star  shoot  from  heaven  to  earth,  not  far 
from  where  they  were.  This  was,  no  doubt,  an  angel  from 
the  good  God,  who  came  down  from  Paradise  in  this  guise, 
to  stand  beside  them  and  help  them  the  more  surely. 

Seeing  the  sign  the  good  women  took  heart  of  grace,  and 
Wantje  spoke  further,  saying  : 

"  Madam  the  Virgin  hearkens  to  us,  'tis  certain.  Let 
as  now  proceed  to  the  gate  of  the  village,  beside  the  church 
of  Our  Lord,  who  dwells  therein  " — here  all  crossed  them- 
selves— "  to  await  with  confidence  the  coming  of  the  Iron- 
tooth  and  his  men.  And  when  we  see  them  near  at  hand 
let  every  woman  draw  her  bow,  without  speaking,  nor  moving 
in  any  way.     Madam  the  Virgin  will  guide  the  arrows." 

"  Well  spoken,  brave  maid,"  said  Master  Bredael.  "  Come, 
I  see  in  those  eyes  of  thine,  so  bright  in  the  darkness,  the 
breath  of  God,  which  is  a  flame,  alight  in  thy  maid's  heart. 
We  must  do  as  she  says,  good  wives." 

"  Yes,  yes,"  said  they. 

This  woman's  army  took  up  its  place  in  line  in  the  alley 
behind  the  church. 

After  a  while  of  waiting,  wherein  was  much  perplexity 
and  anxiety,  they  heard  the  sound  of  footfalls  and  voices, 
growing  louder  as  they  listened,  as  of  men  on  the  march. 

And  Wantje  said  :  "  Madam  Mary,  they  arc  coming  ; 
have  pity  on  us  !  " 

Then  a  large  body  of  men  appeared  before  them,  carrying 
lanterns.     And  they  heard  a  monstrous,  husky,  devil's  voice 

H 


The  Brotherhood  of  the  Cheerful  Cou7ite7ia7ice 

crying  :  "  Out,  friends,  out  upon  them  !  Loot  for  the  Iron- 
tooth  !  " 

But  here  suddenly  all  these  good  women  let  fly  their 
arrows  with  great  precision,  for  though  they  themselves 
remained  in  darkness  they  could  see  the  brigands,  all  lit 
up  by  their  lanterns,  as  clearly  as  in  daylight.  Two  hundred 
of  the  men  fell  at  the  first  volley,  some  with  arrows  in  their 
skulls,  others  in  their  necks,  and  several  with  them  in  their 
bellies. 

The  Irontooth  himself  was  among  the  first  that  the  good 
women  heard  fall  with  a  great  thud,  from  an  arrow  let  fly 
by  Wantje,  which  pierced  him  through  the  eyeball  neatly. 

Some  were  not  wounded  at  all,  but,  having  troubled 
conscience,  thought  when  they  saw  all  these  white  fi.gures 
that  'twas  the  souls  of  those  whom  they  had  made  pass  from 
life  into  death,  come  back  by  God's  grace  to  avenge  them- 
selves upon  them.  So  they  fell  on  their  faces  in  the  dust, 
as  if  dead  from  fear,  crying  out  in  a  most  piteous  manner  : 
"  Mercy,  Lord  God  !  send  back  to  hell  all  these  ghosts,  we 
pray  you." 

But  when  they  saw  the  good  wives  bearing  down  on  them 
fear  put  strength  into  their  legs,  and  they  made  off  as  fast 
as  they  would  carry  them. 

XII.  Wherein  Pieter  Gans  is  7iearer  the  stake  than  the  wine~ 
barrel. 

When  the  enemy  had  been  so  far  discomfited  the  women 
came  back  into  the  square  and  stood  before  the  prefecture, 
not  feeling  any  glory,  but  rather  sadness  at  having  had  to 
shed  Christian  blood  in  this  manner.  Ah,  they  returned 
thanks  with,  a  full  heart  to  Our  Lady  the  Virgin  and  Our 
Lord  Jesus,  who  had  given  them  the  victory. 

Nor  did  they  forget  in  their  thanksgiving  the  good  angel 
who  had  come  to  their  assistance  in  the  form  of  a  bright  star. 
And  they  sang  fair  hymns  and  litanies  very  sweetly. 

Meanwhile  all  the  cocks  in  the  countryside  awoke  one  by 

25 


Flemish  Legends 

one  and  heralded  with  their  clarions  the  new  day  about  to 
dawn. 

And  at  that  call,  all  the  drinkers  were  roused  from  sleep, 
and  ran  to  their  doors  to  find  out  whence  came  this  sweet 
music. 

And  my  lord  the  Sun  laughed  in  the  sky. 

And  the  worthy  men  came  out  into  the  square,  and  some 
of  them,  when  they  saw  their  wives  in  the  assembly,  were  all 
for  beating  them  because  they  had  left  their  beds  ;  but 
Andre  Bredael  interposed  and  told  them  the  whole  story. 
Thereupon  they  were  all  amazed,  ashamed,  and  repentant, 
seeing  how  well  these  brave  petticoats  had  striven  on  their 
behalf.  Pieter  Gans,  Blaeskaek,  and  Father  Claessens,  Dean 
of  Uccle,  a  most  saintly  man,  also  came  out  into  the  square. 

Thereupon,  seeing  all  this  crowd  assembled.  Master 
Bredael  spoke  thus  : 

"  Friends,"  said  he,  "  you  hear  how  that  'tis  through  the 
valour  of  your  wives  and  daughters  alone  that  you  are  not 
bv  this  time  sniffing  the  air  of  heaven.  Therefore  'tis  seemly 
that  here  and  now  you  should  promise,  and  take  oath  to  it, 
not  to  drink  any  more  except  by  their  wish." 

"  That  is  all  very  well,  Master  Bredael,"  said  one  of  the 
townsmen,  "  but  'tis  not  plain  drinking  that  puts  us  all  into 
so  deep  a  sleep.  I  speak  of  these  things  with  knowledge, 
I  who  have  drunk  wine  freely  all  my  life,  and  hope  still  so 
to  do  with  relish  to  the  end  of  my  days.  There  is  something 
else  to  it,  devilry  and  evil  spells,  or  so  I  think.  Come  hither, 
Pieter  Gans,  come  hither  and  talk  to  us  somewhat,  and  if 
thou  know  anything,  bring  light  to  this  dark  matter." 

"  Alas,  alas  !  "  said  Pieter  Gans,  his  head  wagging  and 
his  teeth  chattering  (for  he  was  afraid,  poor  fellow),  "  alas, 
alas  !     I  know  nothing,  my  good  friends." 

"  Nay,"  said  the  man,  "  but  thou  dost  know  something 
of  it,  for  I  see  thy  head  shaking  and  thy  teeth  chattering." 

But  at  this  point  the  Dean  confronted  Gans  : 

"Wicked  Christian,"  said  he,  "I  can  see  well,  enough 
26 


The  Brotherhood  of  the  Cheerful  Comttenafice 

thou  hast  had  commerce  with  the  devil,  to  the  great  despite 
of  all  these  good  men.  Confess  thy  sin  with  all  humility, 
and  we  will  accord  thee  such  grace  as  may  be,  but  if  thou 
deny  it,  thou  shalt  be  punished  with  hot  oil." 

"  Ah,"  said  Pieter  Gans  in  tears,  "  'tis  as  I  said  ;  I  shall 
be  burnt,  dear  God  !  Blaeskaek,  where  art  thou,  my  good 
friend  ?     Give  me  thy  help.     Alas,  alas  !  " 

But  Blaeskaek  had  gone  off  in  a  hurry  from  fear  of  the 
holy  Fathers. 

"  Ah,"  said  Pieter  Gans,  "  see  how  the  traitor  deserts  me 
when  danger  threatens  !  " 

"  Speak,"  said  the  very  reverend  Father. 
"  Yes,  Master  Dean,"  said  Pieter  Gans,  weeping  and  wail- 
ing, "  I  will  tell  you  the  whole  story,  without  keeping  back 
anything.  .  .  .  Master  !  "  he  cried  when  he  had  come  to 
the  end  of  his  recital,  "  if  you  will  not  punish  me  too  heavily. 
Master,  I  will  give  all  my  poor  savings  as  a  perpetual  gift 
to  the  Church.  I  am  a  true  Christian,  that  I  vow,  and  no 
heretic.  Moreover,  I  wish  not  to  die  until  I  have  had  suffi- 
cient time  to  do  long  and  full  penance.  But  have  me  not 
boiled  in  oil  before  I  have  had  that  time,  I  beg  of  you." 

"  As  to  that,"  answered  the  Dean,  "  we  shall  see.  Now 
take  us  to  the  place  where  this  devil  is  to  be  seen." 

By  that  time  they  were  close  to  the  church,  and  the 
priest  went  in  to  get  therefrom  some  holy  water  before  they 
started.  Then  all  the  men,  women,  and  children  of  the 
village  took  their  way  to  The  Horn. 

There  the  Dean  demanded  to  see  what  had  been  the  cause 
of  those  wicked  spells  which  had  been  cast  over  so  many 
worthy  men,  and  Pieter  Gans,  with  all  humility,  showed 
him  the  deviling,  still  smiling  and  holding  his  staff  of  vine- 
branches  in  his  hand.  And  all  the  women,  after  looking  at 
him  for  some  time,  said  that  he  was  very  comely  for  a  devil. 

The  priest  first  crossed  himself,  then,  dipping  his  fingers 
in  the  holy  water,  anointed  therewith  the  brow,  breast,  and 
belly  of  the  statue,  which  thereupon,  by  the  grace  of  God, 

27 


Flemish  Legends 

crumbled  into  dust,  and  a  sorrowful  voice  was  heard  saying  : 
"  Oi  moi,  6  phos,  tethneka  !  " 

And  these  words  of  the  devil  were  explained  by  the 
priest  to  signifv,  in  the  Greek  tongue  :  "  Woe  is  me  !  Light  ! 
I  die  !  " 

XIII.  Of  the  great  wonder  and  astonishment  of  My  Lord  the 
Duke  when  he  heard  of  the  valour  of  the  women  of  Uccle. 

In  the  meantime  the  village  sent  to  the  Duke  two  trusty 
men,  with  a  message  to  that  high  prince  informing  him  in 
due  order  all  that  had  occurred.  These  men  met  him  already 
on  his  way  to  Uccle,  for  he  had  learnt  by  his  runners  the 
Irontooth's  design,  and  knowing  full  well  where  he  would 
find  him  was  coming  against  him  at  all  speed  with  a  strong 
force  of  horsemen. 

As  soon  as  the  messengers  saw  who  it  was  coming  along  the 
road  they  went  down  on  their  knees,  but  the  good  Duke  would 
have  none  of  this,  and  made  them  rise  and  walk  at  his  stirrup. 

Before  they  had  gone  far  they  reached  the  scene  of  the 
brigands'  discomfiture.  At  the  sight  of  all  those  heaped-up 
bodies  the  Duke  halted,  greatly  astonished  and  no  less 
pleased.  "  And  who,"  quoth  he,  "  has  slain  all  these  scoun- 
drels in  this  wise  ?  " 

"  Our  womenfolk,"  said  one  of  the  messengers. 

"  What  is  this  thou'rt  telling  me  ?  "  said  the  Duke  with 
a  frown. 

"  Before  God,  My  Lord,"  said  the  man,  "  I  will  tell  you 
the  whole  story." 

And  so  he  did. 

"  Well,"  said  the  Duke  when  he  had  done,  "  who  would 
have  thought  it  of  these  good  wives  ?  I  will  reward  them 
well  for  it." 

So  saying  he  caused  the  casque  of  the  Irontooth  to  be 
taken  up  and  carried  away.     This  casque  was  to  be  seen  for 
many  years  in  the  armoury  of  My  Lord  Charles,  who  had  it 
guarded  with  the  utmost  care. 
28 


The  Brotherhood  of  the  Cheerful  Countenance 

XIV .  In  what  manner  was  instituted  the  Order  of  the  Women- 
Archers  of  Uccle  and  of  the  fine  reward  which  My  Lord  gave 
to  the  brave  maid  Wantje. 

On  entering  Uccle  the  good  Duke  saw  coming  towards  him 
a  large  body  of  people,  and  in  their  midst  a  man  crying  out 
in  a  most  piteous  voice  :  "  Master  !  Master  Priest  !  let  me 
not  be  boiled  !  "  To  which  the  answer  was  :  "  We  shall  see." 
"  Whence  comes  all  this  noise  ?  "  said  the  Duke. 
But  as  soon  as  Pieter  Gans  saw  who  it  was  he  ran  towards 
him  and  threw  his  arms  round  his  horse's  legs.  "  My  Lord," 
he  cried,  "  My  Lord  Duke,  let  me  not  be  boiled  !  " 

"  And  why,"  said  the  Duke,  "  should  they  boil  one  of 
my  good  men  of  Uccle  ?  " 

But  the  very  reverend  Father  Claessens,  stepping  forward, 
told  him  the  whole  story  with  great  indignation,  while  Pieter 
Gans  continued  to  blubber  alongside  in  a  most  melancholy 
fashion.  And  thereon  followed  such  confusion,  with  the  one 
weeping  and  groaning,  the  other  denouncing  and  syllogizing, 
and  each  so  vehemently,  that  the  good  Duke  could  not  tell 
which  to  listen  to. 

Suddenly  Wantje  came  forward  out  of  the  press,  and, 
like  Pieter  Gans,  cried  :   "  Mercy  and  pity  !  " 

"  My  Lord,"  said  the  maid,  "  this  man  has  sinned  greatly 
against  God,  but  only  from  simpleness  of  mind  and  a  natural 
cowardice.  The  devil  frightened  him  ;  he  submitted  to  the 
devil.     Pardon  him.  My  Lord,  for  our  sakes." 

"  Maid,"  said  the  Duke,  "  that  was  well  spoken,  and  'tis 
to  thee  I  will  hearken." 

But  the  very  reverend  Father  :  "  My  Lord,"  said  he, 
"  forgets  to  think  of  God." 

"  Father,"  said  the  Duke,  "  I  am  not  forgetful  of  that 
duty.  Nevertheless  I  think  he  takes  little  pleasure  in  watch- 
ing Christian  fat  smoke  or  a  good  man's  flesh  boil,  but  likes 
rather  to  see  men  gentle  and  kind,  and  not  giving  their 
fellows  penance  to  do.  And  on  this  day  when  Our  Lady 
the  Virgin  has  deigned  to  perform  a  miracle  for  our  sakes 

29 


Fle7nish  Lege7tds 

I  will  not  sadden  her  mother's  heart  by  the  death  of  a  Christian. 
Therefore  none  of  the  accused,  neither  this  Pieter  Gans  nor 
any  other  there  may  be,  shall  this  time  go  to  the  stake." 

On  hearing  this  Pieter  Gans  burst  out  laughing  like  a 
madman,  and  began  to  dance  and  sing,  crying  out  the  while  : 
"  Praise  to  My  Lord  !  I  am  not  to  be  boiled.  Brabant  to 
the  Good  Duke  !  "  And  all  the  townsfolk  called  out  after 
him  :    "  Praise  to  My  Lord  !  " 

Then  the  Duke  bade  them  be  silent,  and  smiling  : 

"  Well,  dames,"  said  he,  "  who  have  this  night  done  man's 
work  so  valiantly,  come  hither  that  I  may  give  you  a  man's 
reward.  First  of  all,  to  the  bravest  one  among  you  I  give 
this  great  chain  of  gold.     Which  is  she  ?  " 

The  good  women  pushed  Wantje  forward  before  the  Duke. 

"  Ah,"  said  he,  "  'tis  thee,  sweet  pleader.  Wilt  kiss  me, 
though  I  be  old  ?  " 

""Yes,  My  Lord,"  said  the  maid.  And  so  she  did,  not- 
withstanding that  she  was  a  little  shamefaced  over  it. 

And  the  good  Duke,  having  hung  the  chain  round  her 
neck,  spoke  further  in  this  wise  : 

"  As  for  you  all,  good  dames,  who  have  this  night  so 
gallantly  carried  arms,  I  institute  among  you  a  most  honour- 
able Order,  under  the  protection  of  Madam  Mary  the  Virgin, 
and  I  direct  that  there  shall  be  set  up  in  this  place  a  staff 
of  a  good  length,  and  that  each  Sunday  you  shall  come 
together  here  and  draw  the  bow  in  archery,  in  memory  of 
the  time  when  with  those  bows  you  saved  the  lives  of  your 
husbands  and  children.  And  there  shall  be  a  fair  crown  of 
laurel  and  a  fair  purseful  of  golden  peters,  bright  and  new, 
to  be  awarded  annually  to  the  best  archer  of  the  year,  and 
brought  to  her  on  a  cushion  by  all  the  others  together.  And 
this  purse  will  dower  her  if  she  be  a  maid,  or,  if  she  be  a 
wife,  will  stand  her  in  good  stead  against  a  time  of  famine." 

In   this   manner   was   instituted    the   Order   of   Women- 
Archers  of  Uccle,  who  still  draw  the  bow  like  men  every 
Sunday,  under  the  protection  of  Our  Lady  the  Virgin. 
30 


THE  THREE  SISTERS 


THE  THREE  SISTERS 

I,  Of  the  three  noble  ladies  and  their  great  beauty. 
Im  the  year  of  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  690,  lived  three  maidens, 
descended,  by  male  issue,  from  the  noble  line  of  the  great 
emperor  Octavian. 

Their  names  were  Blanche,  Claire,  and  Candide. 

Though  they  had  dedicated  the  flower  of  their  maiden- 
head to  God,  it  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  this  was  for  lack 
of  lovers. 

For,  on  every  day  that  passed,  a  crowd  of  people  used 
to  collect  for  nothing  else  than  to  see  them  go  by  on  their 
way  to  church,  and  onlookers  would  say  of  them  :  "  See 
what  gentle  eyes,  see  what  white  hands  !  " 

More  than  one,  besides,  with  his  mouth  watering  to  look 
at  them,  would  say  sorrowfully  :  "  Must  it  be  that  such 
sweet  maids  as  these  should  dedicate  themselves  to  God, 
who  has  eleven  thousand  or  more  in  his  Paradise  already." 

"  But  none  so  fair,"  answered  an  old  wheezing  merchant 
behind  them,  who  was  drinking  in  the  fragrance  of  their 
dresses. 

And  going  off  on  his  way,  if  the  old  man  saw  any  young 
fellow  loafing  by  the  roadside,  or  lying  on  his  belly  in  the 
grass  to  warm  his  back  in  the  sun,  he  would  give  him  a  kick 
in  the  ribs,  saying  :  "  Well  now,  dost  thou  care  nothing  to 
see  the  finest  flowers  of  beauty  that  were  ever  blowing  ?  " 

//.  How  a  prince  of  Araby  was  taken  with  love  for  the  youngest 
sister,  and  what  came  of  it. 

Not  a  few  young  men  tried  to  win  them  in  marriage,  but 
failing  in  this  endeavour,  turned  moody  and  pined  visibly 
away. 

Among  them  was  a  certain  prince  of  Araby,  who  had 
himself  baptized  with  great  ceremony.  And  this  for  the 
sake  of  the  youngest  sister  solely. 

c  33 


Flemish  Legends 

But,  failing  to  attain  his  end,  either  by  pleading  or  by- 
force,  set  himself  one  morning  before  her  door,  and  there 
let  himself  fall  on  his  sword. 

The  maid,  hearing  this  fair  lord  cry  out,  came  down  in 
haste  and  had  him  carried  in  and  laid  on  her  own  bed  ; 
whereat  (for  he  was  not  quite  dead)  he  found  great 
solace. 

And  when  she  bent  over  him  to  bathe  and  dress  his  wound, 
he  roused  what  force  he  had  left  in  him,  kissed  her  on  her 
red  mouth,  sighed  like  a  man  delivered  from  torment,  and 
so  gave  up  his  soul  happily. 

But  the  maid  was  not  at  all  pleased  at  this  kiss,  for  she 
considered  it  a  dishonour  to  her  divine  husband  Jesus. 
Nevertheless  she  wept  for  the  fair  lord,  a  little. 

///.  Wherein  it  is  seen  how  Satan  -persecutes  those  ladies  who 
seek  to  escape  from  the  world. 

There  were  oftentimes  a  great  crowd  of  suitors  before  the 
dwelling  of  the  three  ladies,  some  of  them  sighing  laments, 
others  prancing  up  and  down  on  fine  horses,  others  without 
uttering  a  word,  but  only  looking  up  at  the  windows  all  the 
day  long. 

And  oftentimes  these  men  wo  aid  fight  together  and  kill 
one  another,  from  jealousy.  At  this  the  ladies  were  saddened 
exceedingly. 

"  Ah,"  said  the  two  elder  to  their  sister,  "  pray  for  us, 
white  Blanche,  white  of  soul  and  white  of  body,  pray  for 
us,  little  one,  Jesus  listens  readily  to  the  prayers  of  such 
maids  as  thou  art." 

"  My  sisters,"  answered  she,  "  I  am  less  worthy  than 
you,  but  I  will  pray,  if  you  so  wish  it." 

"  Yes,"  said  they. 

Then  the  three  sisters  knelt  down,  and  the  youngest 
prayed  in  this  manner  : 

"  Kind  Jesus,  we  have  sinned  against  you  assuredly,  else 
you  would  not  have  let  our  beauty  so  touch  these  wicked 

34 


The  Three  Sisters 

men.  Yes,  we  have  indeed  sinned,  but,  weaklings  that  we 
are,  despite  ourselves.  Lord.  Ah,  grant  us  pardon  for  our 
great  sorrow.  You  would  have  us  for  your  own,  and  so 
indeed  we  have  kept  ourselves  :  our  youth  and  beauty,  mirth 
and  sadness,  vows  and  prayers,  souls  and  bodies,  thoughts 
and  deeds,  everything.  In  the  morning,  at  noon,  and  at 
vesper-time,  at  all  hours  and  all  moments,  do  we  not  have 
you  in  our  minds  ?  When  your  bright  sun  rises,  O  beloved, 
and  no  less  when  your  bright  stars  shine  in  your  heaven, 
they  can  see  us  at  prayer,  and  offering  to  you,  not  gold, 
frankincense,  or  myrrh,  but  our  humble  loves  and  our  poor 
hearts.  That  is  not  enough,  we  know  well.  Dear  one,  teach 
us  to  do  more." 

Pausing  here  they  sighed  sorrowfully,  all  three. 

"  Kind  Jesus,"  went  on  the  youngest  sister,  "  we  know 
well  enough  the  desire  of  these  men.  They  think  themselves 
brave  and  handsome,  and  hope  on  this  account  to  capture 
our  love,  but  they  are  neither  handsome,  nor  brave,  nor 
good,  as  you  are,  Jesus.  And  yours  we  are  and  shall  be 
always,  and  theirs  never.  Will  you  please  to  love  us  also 
a  little,  for  you  alone  are  our  comfort  and  joy  in  this  sad 
world,  Jesus  ?  We  will  not  be  unfaithful  to  you  in  any- 
thing. Ah,  let  us  rather  die  quickly,  for  we  hunger  and 
thirst  for  you.  If  you  will,  let  these  evil  men  continue  to 
pursue  us  with  their  loves,  'twill  be  but  delight  to  suffer  it 
for  your  sake.  Nevertheless,  the  mortal  husband  leaves  not 
his  wife  in  danger,  nor  the  betrothed  his  bride.  Are  you  not 
better  than  they,  and  will  you  not  keep  us  also  from  the 
snares  of  the  enemy  ?  If  it  be  not  pleasing  to  you,  do 
nothing,  but  then  it  may  be  that  one  day  some  one  will 
steal  from  us  our  virginity,  which  is  yours  only.  Ah,  dear 
beloved,  rather  let  us  pass  our  lives  old,  ugly,  leprous,  and 
then  descend  into  purgatory,  among  devils,  flame,  and  brim- 
stone, there  to  wait  until  you  deem  us  pure  enough  at  length 
to  take  us  into  your  Paradise,  where  we  shall  be  allowed  to 
see  you  and  love  you  for  ever.     Have  pity  upon  us.    Amen." 

35 


Flemish  L,ege7ids 

And  having  spoken  thus,  the  poor  child  wept,  and  her 
sisters  with  her,  saying  :    "  Pity,  Jesus,  pity." 

IV .  Of  the  voice  of  the  divine  bridegroom,  and  oj  the  horseman 
in  silvern  armour. 

Suddenly  they  heard  a  low  voice  saying  :   "  Take  heart." 

"  Hark,"  they  said,  "  the  husband  deigns  to  speak  to 
his  brides." 

And  presently  the  room  was  filled  with  a  perfume  more 
dehcate  than  that  of  a  censer  burning  finest  frankincense. 

Then  the  voice  spake  further  :  "  To-mor4-ow,"  it  said, 
"  when  dawn  breaks,  go  out  from  the  town.  Mount  your 
palfreys,  and,  riding  without  halt,  follow  the  road  without 
heeding  whither  it  leads.     I  will  guide  you." 

"  We  will  obey  you,"  they  said,  "  for  you  have  made  us 
the  happiest  of  the  daughters  of  men." 

And  rising  from  their  knees,  they  kissed  one  another 
joyfully. 

While  the  voice  was  speaking  to  them,  there  had  come 
into  the  square  a  beautiful  horseman  in  silvern  armour,  with 
a  golden  helm  on  his  head,  and,  flying  above  that  hke  a  bird, 
a  crest  more  briUiant  than  a  flame.  The  horse  whereon  he 
rode  was  of  pure  white. 

None  of  those  there  had  seen  him  coming,  and  he  was 
as  if  risen  from  the  ground  among  the  crowd  of  lovers,  who, 
seized  with  fear,  dared  not  look  him  in  the  face. 

"  Rascals,"  quoth  he^  "  take  these  horses  away  out  of 
the  square.  Do  you  not  know  that  the  noise  of  their  hooves 
troubles  these  three  ladies  in  their  prayers  ?  " 

And  therewith  he  rode  away  towards  the  east. 

"  Ah,"  said  the  lovers  to  one  another,  "  saw  you  that 
silvern  armour  and  that  flaming  crest  ?  'Twas  an  angel  of 
God  assuredly,  come  from  Paradise  for  the  sake  of  these 
three  ladies."  The  more  insistent  among  them  muttered  : 
"  He  did  not  forbid  us  to  stand  on  foot  before  the  door,  and 
in  that  wise  we  mav  yet  remain  with  impunity." 

36 


The  Three  Sisters 

V .  Hozv,  by  the  command  of  God,  the  three  ladies  rode  to  adventure. 

On  the  morrow,  therefore,  before  dayhght,  the  suitors 
returned  once  again  in  great  numbers,  but  first  left  their 
horses  behind  them  in  their  stables.  Soon  after  daybreak 
they  saw  the  three  ladies  ride  out  from  their  courtyard,  in 
obedience  to  the  command  which  God  had  given  them,  each 
one  mounted  upon  her  palfrey.  Supposing  that  they  were 
but  going  out  into  the  neighbouring  meadows  to  take  the 
clean  air,  they  followed  behind,  one  and  all,  singing  merry 
carols  in  their  honour. 

For  so  long  as  they  were  in  the  streets  of  the  town  the 
palfreys  moved  slowly,  but  once  out  in  the  open  country  they 
began  galloping. 

The  lovers  tried  still  to  follow  them,  but  at  last  were 
forced  to  drop  off,  and  fell  one  by  one  along  the  wayside. 

When  they  had  covered  some  miles  the  palfreys  stood 
still ;  and  the  three  ladies,  seeing  that  they  had  come  free 
of  their  pursuers,  resolved  to  give  honour  to  God  for  his 
aid,  and  to  this  end  to  build  him  a  fair  church. 

Where  ?  They  did  not  know.  But  the  thing  was  already 
decided  in  Paradise,  as  you  shall  see. 

For  as  soon  as  they  were  once  again  on  their  horses,  the 
animals,  guided  by  God's  holy  spirit,  set  off  at  a  high  trot. 

And  leapt  rivers,  threaded  forests,  passed  through  towns, 
whereof  the  gates  opened  of  themselves  to  let  them  by,  and 
closed  again  after,  bounded  over  walls  and  like  obstacles. 

And  startled  every  one  they  met,  all  amazed  to  see  go 
by,  quick  as  the  wind,  these  three  white  horses  and  these 
three  fair  ladies. 

And  travelled  in  this  way  for  a  thousand  leagues,  or 
rather  more. 

VI.  Of  the  diamond  hammers,  and  foundations  torn  up  from 
the  ground. 

At  Haeckendover,  in  the  duchy  of  Brabant,  the  palfreys 
stood  still  once  again,  and  neighed. 

37 


Flemish  Lege?jds 

And  would  not  go  one  step  forward,  nor  back. 

For  this  was  where  God  had  chosen  to  have  his  church. 

But  the  ladies,  supposing  that  they  had  stopped  thexe 
because  they  were  tired,  went  on  as  far  as  Hoy-Bout  on  foot, 
and  there  determined  to  start  building. 

Therefore  they  sent  for  the  most  skilful  workers  in  stone, 
and  master-builders  also,  in  so  great  number  that  at  the  end 
of  one  day  the  foundations  were  two  hands'  breadth  high  in 
the  lowest  part. 

And  seeing  this  good  beginning  the  ladies  rejoiced  greatly, 
and  supposed  their  work  agreeable  to  God. 

But  on  the  morrow,  alas,  found  all  the  stones  torn  up 
out  of  the  ground. 

Thinking  that  by  chance  some  traitor  heretic  had  been 
buried  in  that  place,  who  at  night  shook  down  the  stones  of 
their  church  with  the  trembling  of  his  accursed  bones,  they 
removed  to  Steenen-Berg  with  their  workmen,  and  there 
started  afresh  in  the  same  manner  as  at  Hoy-Bout. 

But  on  the  morrow  morning  found  the  walls  once-  again 
out  of  the  ground. 

For  the  Lord  Jesus  was  minded  to  be  worshipped  more 
particularly  at  Haeckendover. 

And  sent,  therefore,  his  angels  by  night,  with  hammers 
of  diamond  from  the  workshops  of  Paradise. 

And  bade  them  tear  down  the  work  of  the  three  ladies. 

Therefore  the  sisters,  greatly  perplexed  and  wondering, 
went  down  on  their  knees,  praying  God  that  he  would  tell 
them  where  he  wished  to  have  his  church. 

VII.  Of  the  youngest  sister  and  the  beautiful  angel. 

And  suddenly  they  saw  a  young  man,  of  a  beauty  more 
than  earthly,  clad  in  a  robe  of  the  colour  of  the  setting  sun. 

Kindly  he  looked  at  them. 

Knowing  him  for  God's  angel,  the  three  ladies  fell  on 
their  faces  before  him. 

But  the  youngest,  bolder  than  the  others,  as  is  the  way 

38 


The  Three  Sisters 

with  children,  dared  to  steal  a  look  at  the  fair  ambassador, 
and,  seeing  him  so  comely,  took  heart  and  smiled. 

The  angel  took  her  by  the  hand,  saying  to  her  and  to  her 
sisters  :   "  Come  and  follow  me." 

This  they  did. 

And  thence  they  came  to  the  spot  where  the  church  now 
stands,  and  the  angel  said  to  them  :   "  This  is  the  place." 

"  Thank  you,  My  Lord,"  said  the  youngest  joyously. 

VIII.  How  the  three  ladies  saw  a  green  island,  with  sweet 
flowers  and  birds  thereon. 

At  that  time  it  was  thirteen  days  past  the  feast  of  the 
Kings  ;  snow  had  fallen  heavily  and  set  hard  in  frost  after, 
by  reason  of  a  north  wind  which  was  blowing. 

And  the  three  ladies  saw  before  them,  among  the  snow, 
as  it  were  a  green  island. 

And  this  island  was  girt  about  with  a  cord  of  purple 
silk. 

And  upon  the  island  the  air  was  fresh  as  in  spring,  and 
roses  were  blowing,  with  violets  and  jessamine,  whose  smell 
is  like  balm. 

But  outside  was  naught  but  storm,  north  wind,  and 
terrible  cold. 

Towards  the  middle,  where  now  stands  the  grand  altar, 
was  a  holm-oak,  covered  with  blossom  as  if  it  had  been  a 
Persian  jessamine. 

In  the  branches,  warblers,  finches  and  nightingales  sang 
to  their  hearts'  content  the  sweetest  songs  of  Paradise. 

For  these  were  angels,  who  had  put  on  feathered  guise, 
carolling  in  this  fashion  in  God's  honour. 

One  fair  nightingale,  the  sweetest  singer  of  them  all,  held 
in  his  right  claw  a  roll  of  parchment,  whereon  was  written 
in  letters  of  gold  : 

"  This  is  the  place  chosen  by  God  and  shown  by  him 
to  the  three  maidens  for  the  building  of  a  church  to  the 
glory  of  Our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ." 

39 


Flemish  Lege?ids 

Great  was  the  joy  of  the  ladies  at  that  sight,  and  the 
youngest  said  to  the  angel  : 

"  We  see  certainly  that  God  loves  us  somewhat ;  what 
must  we  do  now,  My  Lord  Angel  ?  " 

"  Thou  must  build  the  church  here,  little  one,"  answered 
the  messenger,  "  and  ch  )ose  for  this  work  twelve  of  the  most 
skilled  workmen,  neither  more  nor  less  ;  God  himself  will 
be  the  thirteenth." 

And  having  said  so  much  he  returned  to  high  heaven. 

IX.  Of  the  church  of  Our  Lord  at  Haeckendover,  and  of  the 
strange  mason  who  worked  there. 

Then  all  three  went  off  in  haste  to  choose  from  among 
the  others  the  twelve  good  workmen  who  should  set  up  the 
foundations  of  the  church  where  they  had  seen  the  cord  of 
purple  silk. 

The  work  went  on  so  well  that  it  was  a  pleasure  to  see  the 
stones  mounting  up,  straight  and  quickly. 

But  the  miracle  was  this,  that  during  the  hours  of  labour 
the  masons  were  always  thirteen  in  number,  but  at  dinner 
and  at  paytime  twelve  only. 

For  the  Lord  Jesus  was  pleased  to  work  with  the  others, 
but  neither  ate  nor  drank  with  them  ;  he  who  in  Paradise 
had  such  fine  broth  and  such  sweet  fruits,  and  wine  from 
the  fountain  of  Saphir,  which  is  a  fountain  giving  forth 
without  intermission  wine  of  a  richer  yellow  than  liquid  gold 
itself. 

Nor  did  he  suffer  for  want  of  money  ;  for  that  is  an  evil 
reserved  to  us  needy,  piteous,  and  ill-faring  mortals. 

The  building  advanced  so  well  that  soon  the  bell  was 
hung  in  the  tower  as  a  sign  that  the  church  was  finished. 

Then  the  three  maids  entered  in  together ;  and,  falling  on 
her  knees,  the  youngest  said  : 

"  By  whom,  divine  husband  and  beloved  Jesus,  shall  we 
dedicate  this  church  built  for  your  service  ?  "  ^ 

To  which  the  Lord  Jesus  replied  :  "  It  is  I  Myself  who 
40 


The  Three  Sisters 

will  consecrate  and  dedicate   this  church  ;    let  none  come 
after  me  to  consecrate  it  anew." 

X.  Of  the  two  bishops,  and  the  withered  hands. 

By  and  by  two  venerable  bishops  passed  through  Haecken- 
dover,  and  seeing  the  new  church  were  minded  to  give  it 
their  blessing. 

They  knew  nothing  of  the  words  of  Jesus  to  the  three 
ladies,  or  they  would  not  have  thought  of  such  temerity. 

But  they  were  punished  terribly  none  the  less. 

For  as  one  of  them  was  about  to  bless  the  water  for  this 
purpose  he  became  suddenly  blind. 

And  the  other,  who  was  holding  the  holy  water  brush, 
when  he  lifted  his  arms  for  the  blessing,  found  them  sud- 
denly withered  and  stiffened,  so  that  he  could  no  longer 
move  them. 

And  perceiving  that  they  had  sinned  in  some  way  the 
two  bishops  were  filled  with  repentance  and  prayed  to  the 
Lord  Jesus  to  pardon  them. 

And  they  were  straightway  pardoned,  seeing  that  they 
had  sinned  in  ignorance. 

And  thereafter  they  came  oftentimes  most  devoutly  to 
Haeckendover. 


±1 


SIR  HALEWYN 


SIR  HALEWYN 

/.  Of  the  two  castles. 

Sir  Halewyn  lifted  up  his  voice  in  a  song. 

And  whatever  maid  heard  that  song  must  needs  go  to 
him  straight  away. 

And  now  to  all  good  Flemings  will  I  tell  the  tale  of  this 
Halewyn  and  his  song,  and  of  the  brave  maid  Magtelt. 

There  were  two  proud  castles  In  the  province  of  Flanders. 
In  one  dwelt  Sir  Roel  de  Heurne,  with  the  lady  Gonde,  his 
good  wife ;  Toon  the  Silent,  his  son  ;  Magtelt,  his  fair 
daughter,  and  a  host  of  pages,  grooms,  varlets,  men-at- 
arms,  and  all  the  other  members  of  the  household,  among 
whom  an  especial  favourite  was  Anne-Mie,  a  girl  of  gentle 
blood,  maid  to  the  lady  Magtelt. 

Of  everything  that  was  made  by  his  peasants.  Sir  Roel 
took  naught  but  what  was  the  best. 

And  the  peasants  said  of  him  that  it  was  a  good  master 
who  took  only  as  much  as  he  needed,  when  he  might  have 
left  them  with  nothing. 

In  the  other  castle  lived  Sir  Halewyn  the  Miserable,  with 
his  father,  brother,  mother,  and  sister,  and  a  large  following 
of  rascals  and  brigands. 

And  these  were  an  ill-favoured  crew,  I  can  tell  you,  past 
masters  of  robbery,  pillage,  and  murder,  such  as  it  is  not 
good  to  meet  at  too  close  quarters. 

//.  Of  Dirk,  called  the  Crow. 

This  familv  were  issue  bv  direct  line  of  Dirk,  the  first 
of  the  Halewyns,  to  whom  was  given  the  name  of  the  Crow, 
because  he  was  as  greedy  of  booty  as  a  crow  is  of  carrion. 

And  also  because  he  was  clad  all  in  black,  and  his  men 
with  him. 

This  Dirk,  who  lived  in  the  time  of  the  great  wars,  was 
like  a  thunderbolt  in  battle,  where,  with  his  only  weapon, 

45 


Flemish  Lege7tcis 

a  heavy  club,  furnished  with  a  beak  at  one  side,  he  broke 
javehns,  sphntered  lances,  and  tore  away  mail  as  if  it  had 
been  cloth  ;  and  no  one  could  well  resist  his  onslaught.  And 
in  this  manner  he  so  frightened  his  enemies  that  when  they 
saw  Dirk  and  his  black  soldiers  bearing  down  upon  them, 
shouting,  yelling,  without  fear  of  any  one,  and  in  great 
number,  they  gave  themselves  up  for  dead  before  ever  battle 
was  joined. 

When  victory  was  won  and  the  more  important  booty 
divided  (whereof  Dirk  always  secured  the  lion's  share  and 
never  came  off  badly),  the  other  barons  and  their  knights 
would  leave  the  rest  of  the  field  to  him  and  his  followers, 
and  would  go  off,  saying  :   "  The  pieces  are  for  the  crow." 

No  other  man-at-arms  would  dare  to  stay  behind  then, 
or  he  would  have  been  quickly  taken  and  slain  without  wait- 
ing. And  thereafter  Dirk's  men  would  begin  to  play  the 
crow  in  earnest ;  cutting  off  fingers  to  get  the  rings  on  them, 
even  of  those  not  yet  dead,  who  cried  out  to  them  for  succour  ; 
chopping  off  heads  and  arms  so  that  they  might  pull  away 
clothes  the  more  easily.  And  they  even  fought  amongst 
themselves,  and  sometimes  killed  one  another,  over  the  bodies 
of  the  dead,  for  the  sake  of  neck-pieces,  straps  of  hide,  or 
more  paltry  stuff  still. 

And  staved  sometimes  on  the  battlefield  over  this  business 
three  days  and  three  nights. 

When  all  the  dead  were  stark  naked  they  piled  up  their 
gains  into  carts  which  they  brought  for  this  purpose. 

And  with  these  they  returned  to  Dirk's  castle,  there  to 
hold  high  revel  and  have  good  cheer.  On  the  way  they 
fought  the  peasants,  taking  whatever  women  and  girls  were 
at  all  comely,  and  did  with  them  what  they  pleased.  In 
this  way  they  passed  their  lives  fighting,  pillaging,  robbing 
the  helpless,  and  caring  nothing  at  all  for  either  God  or 
devil. 

Dirk  the  Crow  became  exceedingly  powerful  and  got  very 
much  worship,  both  by  reason  of  his  prowess  in  battle  and 

46 


Sir  Halewy?t 

from  the  fact  that  My  Lord  the  Count  gave  him  after  his 
victories  the  demesne  of  Halewyn,  with  powers  of  seigneury, 
both  of  the  higher  and  the  lower  order. 

And  he  had  a  fine  escutcheon  made  for  himself,  wherein 
was  a  crow  sable  on  a  field  or,  with  this  device  :  The  pieces 
are  for  the  Crow. 

III.  Of  Sir  Halewyn  and  how  he  carried  himself  in  his  youth. 

But  to  this  strong  Crow  were  born  children  of  a  quite 
other  kind. 

For  they  were  all,  strangely  enough,  men  of  the  quill  and 
writing-desk,  caring  nothing  for  the  fine  arts  of  war,  and 
despising  all  arms. 

These  great  clerks  lost  a  good  half  of  their  heritage.  For 
each  year  some  stronger  neighbour  would  rob  them  of  a 
piece  of  it. 

And  they  begot  puny  and  miserable  children,  with  pale 
faces,  who  passed  their  time,  as  clerks  are  wont,  lurking  in 
corners,  sitting  huddled 'on  stools,  and  whining  chants  and 
litanies  in  a  melancholy  fashion. 

Thus  came  to  an  end  the  good  men  of  the  line. 

Siewert  Halewyn,  who  was  the  wretch  of  whom  I  am  to 
tell  you  this  tale,  was  as  ugly,  puny,  woebegone,  and  sour- 
faced  as  the  others,  or  even  worse  than  they. 

And  like  them  he  was  always  lurking  and  hiding  in 
corners,  and  shirking  company,  hated  the  sound  of  laughter, 
sweated  ill-humour,  and,  moreover,  was  never  seen  to  lift 
his  head  skywards  like  an  honest  man,  but  was  all  the  while 
looking  down  at  his  boots,  wept  without  reason,  grumbled 
without  cause,  and  never  had  any  satisfaction  in  anything. 
For  the  rest  he  was  a  coward  and  cruel,  delighting  during 
his  childhood  in  teasing,  frightening  and  hurting  puppies 
and  kittens,  sparrows,  thrushes,  finches,  nightingales,  and 
all  small  beasts. 

And  even  when  he  was  older,  he  hardlv  dared  to  attack 
so  large  a  thing  as  a  wolf,  though  he  were  armed  with  his 

47 


Flemish  Lege?tcls 

great  sword.  But  as  soon  as  the  beast  was  brought  down 
he  would  rain  blows  on  it  with  high  valour. 

So  he  went  on  until  he  was  old  enough  to  marry. 

IV.  How  Sir  Halewyn  wished  to  take  himself  a  wife.,  and  what 
the  ladies  and  gentlewomen  said  to  it. 

Then,  since  he  was  the  oldest  of  the  family,  he  was  sent 
off  to  the  court  of  the  Count,  there  to  find  himself  a  wife. 
But  every  one  laughed  at  him,  on  account  of  his  marvellous 
ugliness,  more  particularly  the  ladies  and  gentlewomen,  who 
made  fun  of  him  among  themselves,  saving  : 

"  Look  at  this  fine  knight  !  What  is  he  doing  here  ?  He 
has  come  to  marry  us,  I  suppose. — Who  would  have  him, 
for  four  castles,  as  many  manors,  ten  thousand  peasants 
and  half  the  gold  in  the  province  ?  None. — And  that  is  a 
pity,  for  between  them  they  would  get  fine  children,  if  they 
were  to  be  like  their  father  ! — Ho,  what  fine  hair  he  has,  the 
devil  must  have  limned  it  with  an  old  nail ;  what  a  fine 
nose,  'tis  like  a  withered  plum,  and  what  fair  blue  eyes,  so 
marvellously  ringed  round  with  red. — See,  he  is  going  to 
cry  !     That  will  be  pretty  music." 

And  Sir  Halewyn,  hearing  the  ladies  talk  after  this 
fashion,  could  not  find  a  word  to  answer  them  with,  for 
between  anger,  shame,  and  sorrow  his  tongue  was  fast  stuck 
to  the  roof  of  his  mouth. 

Nevertheless  he  would  take  a  lance  at  every  tournament, 
and  every  time  would  be  shamefully  overcome,  and  the 
ladies,  seeing  him  fall,  would  applaud  loudly,  crying  out  : 
"  Worship  to  the  ill-favoured  one  !  The  old  crow  has  lost 
his  beak."  Thus  they  compared  him,  for  his  shame,  with 
Dirk,  the  old  stock  of  the  Halewyns,  who  had  been  so  mighty 
in  his  day.  And,  acclaimed  in  this  fashion  every  time  he 
jousted.  Sir  Halewyn  would  go  back  from  the  field  in  sorrow 
to  his  pavilion, 


48 


Sir  Halewyn 

V.  How   it    came   about    that    Sir    Halewyn,   after   a   certain 
tournament,  called  upon  the  devil  for  aid. 

At  the  third  tournament  wherein  he  was  beaten  there 
were  on  the  field  his  father,  mother,  brother,  and  sister. 

And  his  father  said  : 

"  Well,  look  at  my  fine  son,  Siewert  the  soft,  Siewert  the 
overthrown,  Siewert  the  faint-heart,  coming  back  from  joust- 
ing with  his  tail  between  his  legs,  like  a  dog  thrashed  with 
a  great  stick." 

And  his  mother  said  : 

"  I  suppose  for  certain  that  My  Lord  the  Count  has  put 
a  gold  chain  round  thy  neck,  and  acclaimed  thee  publicly, 
for  having  so  valiantly  in  this  jousting  jousted  on  thy  back, 
as  in  the  old  days  my  lord  of  Beaufort  was  wont  to  make 
thee  do;     Holy  God  !   that  was  a  fine  tumble." 

And  his  sister  said  : 

"  Welcome,  my  fair  brother,  what  news  do  you  bring  ? 
Thou  wert  the  victor  for  certain,  as  I  see  from  thy  triumphant 
mien.     But  where  is  the  wreath  of  the  ladies  ?  " 

And  his  brother  said  : 

"  Where  is  your  lordly  bearing,  My  Lord  Siewert  Halewyn 
the  elder,  descendant  of  the  Crow  with  the  great  beak  ?  For 
such  a  Crow  vanquishes  without  much  trouble  eagles,  gos- 
hawks, shrikes,  gerfalcons,  sparrow-hawks.  Are  you  not 
thirsty,  my  brother,  with  the  thirst  of  a  baron,  of  a  victor, 
I  will  not  say  of  a  villein  ?  We  have  here  some  fine  frog's 
wine,  which  will  cool  the  fires  of  victory  in  your  belly." 

"  Ha,"  answered  the  Sire,  grinding  his  teeth,  "  if  God 
gave  me  strength,  I  would  make  thee  sing  a  different  song 
Sir  Brother." 

And  saying  this,  he  pulled  out  his  sword  to  do  so,  but 
the  younger,  parrying  his  thrust,  cried  out : 

"  Bravo,  uncrowlike  Crow !  Bravo,  capon  !  Raise  up 
our  house,  I  beg  of  thee,  Siewert  the  victorious  !  " 

"  Ha,"  said  the  Sire,  "  and  why  does  this  chatterer  not 
go  and  joust  as  well  as  I  ?     But  he  would  not  dare,  being 

D  49 


Flefnish  Legends 

that  kind  of  coward  who  looks  on  at  others,  folding  his 
arms  and  making  fun  of  those  who  strive." 

Then  he  dismounted  from  his  horse,  went  off  and  hid 
himself  in  his  chamber,  cried  out  to  the  four  walls  in  a  rage, 
prayed  to  the  devil  to  give  him  strength  and  beauty,  and 
promised  him,  on  the  oath  of  a  knight,  that  he  would  give 
him  his  soul  in  exchange. 

So  he  called  on  him  all  through  the  night,  crying  out, 
weeping,  bewailing  his  lot,  minded  at  times  even  to  kill 
himself.     But  the  devil  did  not  come,  being  busy  elsewhere. 

VI.  Of  the  rovings  and  wanderings  of  Sir  Halewyn. 

Every  day  after  this,  whether  it  were  fair  or  foul,  light 
sky  or  dark,  storm  or  gentle  breeze,  rain,  snow,  or  hail.  Sir 
Halewyn  wandered  alone  through  the  fields  and  woods. 

And  children,  seeing  him,  ran  away  in  fear. 

"  Ah,"  said  he,  "  I  must  be  very  ugly  !  "  And  he  went 
on  with  his  wandering. 

But  if  on  his  way  he  met  some  common  man  who  had 
strength  and  beauty,  he  would  bear  down  on  him  and  often- 
times kill  him  with  his  sword. 

And  every  one  grew  to  shun  him,  and  to  pray  to  God 
that  he  would  soon  remove  their  Lord  from  this  world. 

And  every  night.  Sir  Halewyn  called  on  the  devil. 

But  the  devil  would  not  come. 

"  Ah,"  said  the  Sire  sorrowfully,  "  if  thou  wilt  only  give 
me  strength  and  beauty  in  this  life,  I  will  give  thee  my  soul 
in  the  other.     'Tis  a  good  bargain." 

But  the  devil  never  came. 

And  he,  restless,  always  in  anguish  and  melancholy,  was 
soon  like  an  old  man  to  look  at,  and  was  given  the  name 
throughout  the  country  of  the  Ill-favoured  Lord. 

And  his  heart  was  swollen  with  hatred  and  anger.  And 
he  cursed  God. 


50 


Sir  Halewy?2 

VII.  Of  the  Prince  of  the  Stones  and  of  the  song. 

One  day  in  the  season  of  plum-picking,  having  roved  over 
the  whole  countryside,  and  even  as  far  as  Lille,  on  the  way 
back  to  his  castle  he  passed  through  a  wood.  Ambling  along 
he  saw  among  the  undergrowth,  alongside  an  oak,  a  stone 
which  was  of  great  length  and  broad  in  proportion. 

And  he  said  :  "  That  will  make  me  a  good  seat,  comfort- 
able enough  to  rest  on  for  a  little  while."  And  sitting  down 
on  the  stone  he  once  again  prayed  to  the  devil  to  let  him 
have  health  and  beauty. 

By  and  by,  although  it  was  still  daylight,  and  the  small 
birds,  warblers  and  finches,  sang  in  the  woods  joyously,  and 
there  was  a  bright  sun  and  a  soft  wind.  Sir  Halewyn  went 
off  to  sleep,  for  he  was  very  tired. 

Having:  slept  until  it  was  night,  he  was  suddenly  awakened 
by  a  strange  sound.  And  he  saw,  by  the  light  of  the  high 
moon  and  the  clear  stars,  as  it  were  a  little  animal,  with  a 
coat  like  a  mossy  stone,  who  was  scratching  up  the  earth 
beneath  the  rock,  now  and  again  thrusting  his  head  into  the 
hole  he  had  made,  as  a  dog  does  hunting  moles. 

Sir  Halewyn,  thinking  it  was  some  wild  thing,  hit  at  it 
with  his  sword. 

But  the  sword  was  broken  at  its  touch,  and  a  little  manni- 
kin  of  stone  leapt  up  on  to  his  shoulders,  and  smote  his 
cheeks  sharply  with  his  hard  hands,  and  said,  wheezing  and 
laughing : 

"  Seek,  Siewert  Halewyn  ;  seek  song  and  sickle,  sickle 
and  song  ;   seek,  seek,  ill-favoured  one  !  " 

And  so  saying  he  hopped  about  like  a  flea  on  the  back 
of  the  Miserable,  who  bent  forward  as  he  was  bid,  and  with 
a  piece  of  his  sword  dug  in  the  hole.  And  the  stony  cheek 
of  the  little  mannikin  was  alongside  his  own,  and  his  two 
eyes  lit  up  the  hole  better  than  lanterns  would  have  done. 

And  biting  Halewyn's  flesh  with  his  sharp  teeth,  striking 
him  with  his  little  fists,  and  with  his  nails  pinching  and  pull- 
ing him,  and  laughing  harshly,  the  little  mannikin  said  : 

51 


Flemish  Legends 

"  I  am  the  Prince  of  the  Stones,  I  have  fine  treasures  ;   seek, 
seek.  Miserable  !  " 

And  saying  this,  he  pommelled  him  beyond  endurance. 
"  He  wants,"  he  screamed,  mocking  him,  "  Siewert  Halewyn 
wants  strength  and  beauty,  beauty  and  strength  ;  seek  then, 
Miserable." 

And  he  pulled  out  his  hair  in  handfuls,  and  tore  his  dress 
with  his  nails  until  he  was  all  in  rags,  and  kept  saying,  with 
great  bursts  of  laughter  :  "  Strength  and  beauty,  beauty  and 
strength  ;  seek,  seek.  Miserable  !  "  And  he  hung  from  his 
ears  with  his  two  hands,  and  kicked  his  stone  feet  in  his 
face,  notwithstanding  that  the  Sire  cried  out  with  pain. 

And  the  little  mannikin  said  :  "  To  get  strength  and 
beauty,  seek,  Halewyn,  a  song  and  a  sickle,  seek.  Sir  Miser- 
able !  "  And  the  Miserable  went  on  scratching  out  the  earth 
with  his  piece  of  sword. 

Suddenly  the  earth  fell  away  under  the  stone,  leaving  a 
great  hole  open,  and  Halewyn,  by  the  light  of  the  mannikin's 
eyes,  saw  a  sepulchre,  and  within  the  sepulchre  a  man  lying, 
who  was  of  marvellous  beauty  and  had  none  of  the  appear- 
ance of  death. 

This  man  was  clad  all  in  white,  and  in  his  hands  held  a 
sickle,  whereof  both  handle  and  blade  were  of  gold. 

"  Take  the  sickle,"  quoth  the  little  mannikin,  thumping 
his  head  with  his  fists. 

Sir  Halewyn  did  as  he  was  bid,  and  straightway  the  man 
in  the  tomb  became  dust,  and  from  the  dust  came  a  white 
flame,  tall  and  spreading,  and  from  the  white  flame  a  wonder- 
fully sweet  song. 

And  suddenly  all  about  the  wood  was  spread  a  perfume 
of  cinnamon,  frankincense,  and  sweet  marjoram. 

"  Sing,"  said  the  mannikin,  and  the  Miserable  repeated 
the  song.  While  he  was  singing  his  harsh  voice  was  changed 
to  a  voice  sweeter  than  an  angel's,  and  he  saw  coming  out 
of  the  depths  of  the  wood  a  virgin  of  heavenly  beauty  and 
wholly  naked  ;  and  she  came  and  stood  before  him. 
52 


THE  MAN  IN  WHITE 


Sir  Halewy7t 

"  Ah,"  she  said,  weeping,  "  master  of  the  golden  sickle. 
I  come,  for  I  must  obey  ;  do  not  make  me  suffer  too  much 
in  the  taking  of  my  heart,  master  of  the  golden  sickle." 

Then  the  virgin  went  away  into  the  depths  of  the  wood ; 
and  the  mannikin,  bursting  out  into  laughter,  threw  Sir 
Halewyn  down  on  to  the  ground,  and  said  : 

"  Hast  song  and  sickle  ;  so  shalt  thou  have  strength  and 
beauty  ;   I  am  the  Prince  of  the  Stones  ;  farewell,  cousin." 

And  Halewyn,  picking  himself  up,  saw  no  more  of  either 
the  mannikin  or  the  naked  maid  ;  and  studying  well  the 
golden  sickle,  and  pondering  in  his  mind  what  could  be  the 
meaning  of  the  man  in  the  tomb  and  the  naked  virgin,  and 
inquiring  within  himself  in  perplexity  what  use  he  could 
make  of  the  sickle  and  the  sweet  song,  he  saw  suddenly  on 
the  blade  a  fair  inscription,  written  in  letters  of  fire. 

But  he  could  not  read  the  writing,  for  he  was  ignorant 
of  all  the  arts  ;  and,  weeping  with  rage,  he  threw  himself 
into  the  bushes,  crying  out :  "  Help  me.  Prince  of  the  Stones. 
Leave  me  not  to  die  of  despair." 

Thereupon  the  mannikin  reappeared,  leapt  upon  his 
shoulder,  and,  giving  him  a  stout  rap  on  the  nose,  read  on  one 
side  of  the  blade  of  the  sickle  this  inscription  which  follows  : 

Song  calls, 

Sickle  reaps. 

In  the  heart  of  a  maid,  shalt  thou  jind  : 

Strength,  beauty,  honour,  riches. 

From  the  hands  of  a  dead  virgin. 

And  upon  the  other  side  of  the  blade  the  mannikin  read 
further  : 

Whoso  thou  art  shalt  do  this  thing. 
Writing  read  and  song  sing  : 
Seek  well,  hark  and  go  ; 
No  man  shall  lay  thee  low. 
Song  calls. 
Sickle  reaps. 

53 


Flemish  Lege?tds 

And  having  read  this  the  mannikin  went  away  once  more. 

Suddenly  the  Miserable  heard  a  sad  voice  saying  : 

"  Wilt  thou  seek  strength  and  beauty  in  death,  blood, 
and  tears  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  he. 

"  Ambitious  heart,  heart  of  stone,"  answered  the  voice. 
Then  he  heard  nothing  more. 

And  he  gazed  at  the  sickle  with  its  flaming  letters  until 
such  time  as  My  Lord  Chanticleer  called  his  hens  awake. 

VIII.  What  Halewyn  did  to  the  little  girl  cutting  faggots. 

The  Miserable  was  overjoyed  at  what  had  come  about, 
and  inquired  within  himself  whether  it  would  be  in  the  heart 
of  a  virgin  child  or  of  a  marriageable  virgin  that  he  would 
find  what  was  promised  him,  and  so  satisfy  his  great  desire 
for  worship  and  power. 

Pondering  this  he  went  a  little  way  through  the  wood  and 
stationed  himself  near  to  some  cottages  where  he  knew  there 
were  maids  of  divers  ages,  and  there  waited  until  morning. 

Soon  after  the  sun  was  up,  a  little  girl  came  out,  nine 
years  old,  or  rather  less,  and  began  collecting  and  cutting 
up  faggots. 

Going  up  to  her,  he  sang  the  song  and  showed  her  the 
sickle. 

Whereupon  she  cried  out  in  fear,  and  ran  away  as  fast 
as  she  could. 

But  Halewyn,  having  quickly  overtaken  her,  dragged  her 
off  by  force  to  his  castle. 

Going  in,  he  met  on  the  bridge  his  lady  mother,  who  said 
to  him  :   "  Where  goest  thou.  Miserable,  with  this  child  ?  " 

He  answered  : 

"  To  bring  honour  to  our  house." 

And  his  lady  mother  let  him  pass,  thinking  him  mad. 

He  went  into  his  room,  opened  the  side  of  the  girl  beneath 
a  breast  just  budding,  cut  out  the  heart  with  the  sickle,  and 
drank  the  blood. 
54 


Sir  Haiewyn 

But  he  got  no  more  strength  from  it  than  he  had  before. 

And  weeping  bitter  tears,  he  cried  :  "  The  sickle  has 
played  me  false."  And  he  threw  down  into  the  moat  both 
the  heart  and  the  body. 

And  the  lady  Haiewyn  seeing  this  poor  heart  and  body 
dropping  into  the  water,  ordered  that  they  should  be  taken 
out  and  brought  to  her. 

Seeing  the  body  rent  open  under  the  breast,  and  the  heart 
taken  out,  she  became  afraid  lest  Siewert  her  first-born  was 
following  dark  practices. 

And  she  put  the  girl's  heart  back  in  her  breast,  and  gave 
her  a  very  fine  and  Christian  burial,  and  had  a  fair  great 
cross  made  on  her  winding-sheet,  and  afterwards  she  was  put 
in  the  ground  and  a  fair  mass  said  for  the  quiet  of  her  soul. 

IX.  Of  the  heart  of  a  maid  and  of  the  great  strength  which  came 
to  Sir  Haiewyn. 

Sorely  troubled,  and  falling  on  his  knees,  Haiewyn  said  : 
"  Alas,  is  the  spell  then  impotent  ?  I  sang,  and  she  would 
not  come  to  my  singing  !  What  would  you  have  me  do 
now.  Lord  Prince  of  the  Stones  ?  If  it  is  that  I  must  wait 
until  nightfall,  that  I  will  do.  Then,  without  doubt,  having 
no  sun  to  hinder  your  powers,  you  will  give  me  strength  and 
beauty,  and  all  prowess,  and  you  will  send  me  the  virgin  I 
need." 

And  he  went  at  night  to  wander  in  the  woods  round  about 
the  cottages,  and  there,  singing  his  song,  and  looking  out  to 
see  if  any  were  coming, 

He  saw  by  the  light  of  the  bright  moon  the  daughter  of 
Claes,  a  poor  mad  man,  nicknamed  the  Dog-beater,  because 
he  used  to  thump  and  pommel  grievously  whomever  he  met, 
saying  that  these  accursed  dogs  had  robbed  him  of  his  coat, 
and  must  give  it  him  back  again. 

This  girl  took  care  of  Claes  very  well,  and  would  not 
marry,  though  she  was  a  beautiful  maid,  saying  :  "  Since  he 
is  simple,  I  cannot  leave  him  to  look  to  himself." 

55 


Fle7nish  Legends 

And  every  one,  seeing  her  so  stout-hearted,  gave  her, 
one  some  of  his  cheese,  another  some  beans,  another  some 
flour,  and  so  they  hved  together  without  wanting  for 
food. 

The  Miserable  stood  still  at  the  edge  of  the  wood  and 
sang.  And  the  maid  walked  straight  towards  the  singing 
and  fell  on  her  knees  before  him. 

He  went  home  to  his  castle,  and  she  followed  him,  and 
entered  in  with  him,  saying  no  word. 

On  the  stair  he  met  his  brother,  just  returned  from  boar- 
hunting,  who  said,  in  mocking  wise  : 

"  Ah,  is  the  Miserable  about  to  get  us  a  bastard  ?  "  And 
to  the  girl :  "  Well,  mistress,  thy  heart  must  be  fast  set  on 
my  ugly  brother  that  thou  must  needs  follow  him  in  this 
wise,  without  a  word  spoken." 

But  Halewyn,  in  a  rage,  hit  out  at  his  brother's  face  with 
his  sword. 

Then,  passing  him  by,  went  up  into  his  own  room. 

And  there,  having  shut  fast  the  door,  from  fear  of  his 
brother,  he  stripped  the  girl  quite  naked,  as  he  had  seen  the 
virgin  in  his  vision.     And  the  girl  said  that  she  was  cold. 

Quickly  he  opened  her  breast  with  the  golden  blade,  under 
the  left  pap. 

And  as  the  maid  gave  the  death-cry,  the  heart  came  out 
of  itself  on  the  blade. 

And  the  Miserable  saw  before  his  eyes  the  little  mannikin 
coming  out  of  the  stones  of  the  wall,  who  said  to  him,  grin- 
ning : 

"  Heart  on  heart  gives  strength  and  beauty.  Halewyn 
shall  hang  the  maid  in  the  Gallows-field.  And  the  body 
shall  hang  until  the  hour  of  God."  Then  he  went  back  into 
the  wall. 

Halewyn  put  the  heart  on  his  breast,  and  felt  it  beating 
firmly  and  taking  root  in  his  skin.  And  suddenly  his  bent 
back  was  straightened  ;  and  his  arm  found  such  strength 
that  he  broke  easily  in  two  a  heavy  oaken  bench  ;   and  look- 

56 


Sir  Halewyn 

ing  at  himself  in  a  mirror-glass  he  saw  an  image  so  beautiful 
that  he  could  scarce  tell  it  for  his  own. 

And  he  felt  in  his  veins  the  fire  of  youth  burning. 

Going  down  into  the  great  hall  he  found  there  at  supper 
his  father,  mother,  brother,  and  sister. 

None  of  them  would  have  known  him  but  for  his  voice, 
which  was  unchanged. 

And  his  mother  rose  and  peered  into  his  face  to  see  him 
better. 

And  he  said  to  her  :  "  Woman,  I  am  thine  own  son, 
Siewert  Halewyn,  the  Invincible." 

But  his  brother,  whom  he  had  but  lately  smitten  in  the 
face,  ran  towards  him  hotly,  saying  :  "  Cursed  be  the  In- 
vincible !  "  and  struck  him  with  his  knife.  But  the  blade 
snapped  off  like  glass  against  the  body  of  the  Miserable  ; 
whereupon  the  younger  brother  seized  him  in  his  arms,  but 
the  Miserable  tore  him  off  and  threw  him  to  one  side  as  if 
he  had  been  a  caterpillar. 

Then  he  rushed  at  him  with  his  head  down,  like  a 
battering-ram,  but  as  soon  as  his  head  touched  the 
Miserable  it  was  cut  open,  and  the  blood  ran  down  over 
his  face. 

And  his  father  and  mother,  his  sister  and  the  wounded 
brother,  threw  themselves  on  their  knees  and  asked  his  for- 
giveness, begging  him,  since  he  had  become  so  powerful,  to 
bring  them  riches  and  honour. 

"  That  I  will,"  said  he. 

X.  How  the  Miserable  robbed  a  Lombard  goldsmith^  and  of  the 
pleasant  speech  of  the  ladies  and  gentlewomen. 

On  the  morrow,  armed  only  with  the  sickle,  for  he  despised 
other  arms  on  account  of  the  strength  which  the  spell  gave 
him,  Halewyn  took  the  body  of  the  maid  to  the  Gallows- 
field  and  there  hanged  it  on  the  tree. 

Then  he  rode  off  to  the  city  of  Ghent. 

And  the  ladies,  gentlewomen  and  maidens  of  the  town, 

57 


Flejnish  Legends 

seeing  him  pass  by  on  his  black  horse,  said  among  themselves  : 
"  Who  is  this  fair  horseman  ?  " 

"  'Tis,"  he  cried  right  proudly,  "  Siewert  Halewyn,  who 
was  called  the  Ill-favoured  one." 

"  Nay,  nay,"  said  the  bolder  among  them,  "  you  are 
making  fun  of  us.  My  Lord,  or  else  you  have  been  changed 
by  a  fairy." 

"  Yes,"  said  he,  "  and,  moreover,  I  had  fleshly  knowledge 
of  her  ;  and  so  shall  have  of  you,  if  I  please." 

At  these  words  the  ladies  and  gentlewomen  were  not  at 
all  put  out. 

And  he  went  to  the  shop  of  a  Lombard  goldsmith  in  that 
town,  who  had  at  one  time  and  another  lent  him  six-and- 
twenty  florins.  But  the  goldsmith  did  not  know  him  for 
himself. 

He  told  him  that  he  was  Sir  Halewyn. 

"  Ah,"  said  the  goldsmith,  "  then  I  pray,  My  Lord,  that 
you  will  repay  me  my  six-and-twenty  florins." 

But  Halewyn,  laughing  :  "  Take  me,"  he  said,  "  to  the 
room  where  thou  keepest  thy  gold." 

"  My  Lord,"  said  the  goldsmith,  "  that  I  will  not,  for  all 
that  I  hold  you  in  high  esteem." 

"  Dog,"  said  he,  "  if  thou  dost  not  obey  me  I  will  strike 
thee  dead  instantly." 

"  Ha  !  "  said  the  goldsmith,  "  do  not  come  blustering 
here.  My  Lord,  for  I  am  neither  serf  nor  peasant,  but  a  free 
burgess  of  this  town.  And  if  you  are  so  minded  as  to  lay 
your  hands  on  me,  I  shall  know  how  to  get  redress,  I  promise 
you." 

Then  Halewyn  struck  him,  and  the  burgess  called  for  help. 

Hearing  this  cry,  apprentices  to  the  number  of  six  came 
down  into  the  shop,  and,  seeing  Halewyn,  ran  to  seize  him. 

But  he  beat  them  off  likewise  and  bade  them  show  him 
where  the  gold  was  kept. 

Which  they  did,  saying  one  to  another  :    "  This  is  the 
Devil." 
58 


Sir  Haiewy?t 

And  the  goldsmith,  weeping  :  "  My  Lord,"  said  he,  "  do 
not  take  it  all." 

"  I  shall  take  what  I  will,"  said  Halewyn ;  and  he  filled 
his  money-bag. 

And  in  this  way  he  took  from  the  goldsmith  more  than 
seven  hundred  golden  bezants. 

Then,  seeing  the  poor  man  lamenting  his  lot,  he  struck 
him  two  or  three  hard  blows,  telling  him  not  to  whine  so 
loud,  and  that  before  the  month  was  out  he  would  take  from 
him  double  the  amount. 

XI.  Of  the  arrogant  arms  of  Sir  Halewyn. 

And  the  Miserable  became  the  richest,  most  powerful, 
and  most  feared  baron  in  the  whole  province. 

And  blasphemously  he  compared  himself  to  God. 

And  considering  that  the  old  arms  of  Dirk,  and  his  device, 
were  too  mean  for  his  new  magnificence  : 

He  sent  to  Bruges  for  painters  in  heraldry  to  fashion  them 
afresh. 

These  painters  put  the  old  crow  away  in  one  quarter,  and 
on  a  field  argent  and  sable  blazoned  a  heart  gules  and  a  sickle 
or,  with  this  device  :   None  can  stand,  against  me. 

Moreover,  he  had  this  same  blazon  fashioned  into  a  great 
standard  which  was  flown  from  his  castle  keep.  And  also 
had  it  cut  in  stone  over  the  gate.  And  on  his  shield,  which 
he  caused  to  be  made  larger  so  that  the  arrogant  device 
might  be  seen  to  better  advantage.  And  on  his  arms,  his 
clothes,  and  wherever  it  could  be  put,  there  he  had  it  as  well. 

XII.  How  Sir  Halewyn  jousted  with  a  knight  of  England. 

It  so  happened  that  at  about  this  time  My  Lord  of 
Flanders  let  call  a  tournament. 

And  sent  out  to  all  his  lords  and  barons  to  come  to  Ghent 
for  that  purpose. 

Halewyn  went  thither  and  set  up  his  shield  among  the 
others. 

59 


Fkfnish  Lege?i(/s 

But  the  barons  and  lords,  seeing  the  arrogant  device  and 
the  great  size  of  the  shield,  were  greatly  put  to  offence 
thereat. 

And  all  of  them  jousted  with  him,  but  each  was  over- 
thrown in  turn. 

Among  them  was  present  an  English  knight  of  much 
prowess,  who  rode  out  to  the  middle  of  the  tourney-field  and 
stood  straight  and  proud  before  Sir  Halewyn. 

"  Well,"  quoth  he,  "  My  Lord  the  Invincible,  it  displeases 
me  to  see  thee  planted  there  so  arrogantly  and  unhorsing  us 
all  in  this  fashion.     Wilt  thou  fight  with  me  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  Sir  Halewyn. 

"  If  I  overcome  thee,  thou  shalt  be  my  servant  and  I 
shall  take  thee  with  me  into  Cornwall." 

"  Yes,"  said  Sir  Halewyn. 

"  And  cause  thee  to  grease  my  horses'  hooves,  and  empty 
the  dung  from  the  stable  ;  and  find  out  whether  thou  art 
invincible  at  such  work  also." 

"  Yes,"  said  Sir  Halewyn. 

"  And  if  thou  art  not  invincible,  the  invincible  stick  shall 
thrash  thee  invincibly." 

"  Yes,"  said  Sir  Halewyn. 

"  But  if  thou  overcome  me,  this  shall  be  thy  guerdon  : 

"  Five-and-twenty  bezants  which  are  in  the  house  of  thy 
Lord,  the  noble  Count  of  Flanders  ;  all  the  accoutrement  of 
my  horse,  which  is  of  fine  mail ;  his  fair  saddle  of  pear-wood, 
covered  with  leather,  and  saddle-bows  richly  figured  with 
ten  horsemen  lustily  fighting  and  with  Our  Lord  driving  out 
the  devil  from  one  possessed  ;  furthermore  my  helm  of  fine 
wrought  steel,  and  on  it  a  crest  of  silver,  gilt  over,  with 
spread  wings,  which  may  very  well,  notwithstanding  thy 
device,  stand  against  thy  bleeding  heart,  thy  gaping  sickle, 
and  thy  miserable  crow.  Well,  My  Lord  the  Invincible,  dost 
think  thou  shalt  win  invincibly  the  five-and-twenty  bezants, 
the  helm  of  my  head,  and  the  trappings  of  my  horse  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  Sir  Halewyn. 
60 


Sir  Halewyn 

Then,  after  My  Lord  himself  had  given  the  signal,  they 
ran  together  with  a  great  clatter. 

And  the  English  knight  was  overthrown  like  the  rest. 

Then  all  the  ladies  acclaimed  and  applauded  the  Miserable, 
crying  out  :  "  Worship  to  Siewert  Halewyn  the  noble,  Siewert 
Halewyn  the  Fleming,  Siewert  Halewyn  the  Invincible." 

And  on  his  way  back  to  the  house  of  My  Lord,  there  to 
feast  with  him,  he  was  by  these  ladies  kissed,  fondled,  and 
made  much  of  without  stint. 

And,  putting  on  the  gear  of  the  English  knight,  he  went 
off  to  the  towns  of  Bruges,  Lille,  and  Ghent,  thieving  and 
ravishing  everywhere. 

And  came  back  from  each  expedition  with  much  booty. 

And  felt  the  heart  all  the  while  pouring  live  strength  into 
his  breast  and  beating  against  his  skin. 

Then  he  went  back  to  his  own  castle  with  the  five-and- 
twenty  bezants^  and  the  arms  of  the  knight  of  England. 

When  he  sounded  the  horn  there  came  to  him  his  mother, 
who,  seeing  him  so  gilt  over,  was  overcome  with  joy,  and 
cried  :   "  He  brings  us  riches,  as  he  promised." 

"  Yes,"  said  Sir  Halewyn. 

And  she  fell  at  his  feet  and  kissed  them. 

As  also  did  the  younger  brother,  saying  :    "  Sir  Brother 
thou  hast  lifted  us  up  from  poverty,  I  will  willingly  serve 
thee." 

"  So  shouldst  thou,  indeed,"  said  Halewyn.  Then,  going 
into  the  hall :  "  I  would  sup,"  he  said,  "  thou,  woman,  fetch 
me  meat,  and  thou,  fellow,  drink." 

And  on  the  morrow,  and  every  day  thereafter,  he  made  to 
serve  him  at  table,  as  if  they  had  been  his  private  servants, 
his  father,  mother,  brother,  and  sister,  turn  by  turn. 

XIII.  Of  the  heart  dried  up  and  of  the  dame  Halewyn. 

But  one  morning  while  he  was  at  meat  in  his  castle,  when 
his  father  and  sister  were  gone  to  Bruges  to  buy  corn-coloured 
cloth-of-scarlet  for  their  clothes, 

6i 


FIe?nish  Legends 

And  he  was  being  served,  with  all  humility,  by  his  mother 
and  brother, 

He  became  suddenly  quite  cold,  for  the  heart  had  ceased 
to  beat. 

Putting  his  hand  to  his  breast,  he  touched  dried-up  skin. 

Then  he  felt  his  face  go  back  as  it  was  before,  his  shoulders 
shrink  down,  his  back  hump  up,  and  all  his  body  lessen  in 
stature. 

Looking  at  his  mother  and  brother  in  turn,  he  saw  them 
laughing  and  saying  to  each  other  :  "  See,  here  is  our  master 
back  in  his  old  ugly  skin,  and  with  his  old  ugly  face." 

"  Ha,  My  Lord,"  said  his  brother,  coming  boldly  up  to 
him  and  speaking  insolently,  "  will  you  not  take  some  of  this 
clauwaert  to  hearten  yourself  ?  You  have  no  longer,  it 
seems,  your  former  strength." 

"  Wilt  try  it  ?  "  said  the  Miserable,  and  struck  him 
with  his  fist,  but  did  him  no  more  hurt  than  if  he  had 
been  a  fly. 

Seeing  this  the  younger  brother  grew  bolder,  and  seating 
himself  close  to  Halewyn  on  the  seat  : 

"  My  lord,"  said  he,  "  you  have  had  pudding  enough, 
I  think,  'tis  my  turn  to  eat." 

And  he  took  the  pudding  from  off  his  platter. 

"  My  lord  son,"  said  his  mother,  "  now  you  shall  give 
to  me,  who  am  old,  some  of  this  old  wine  you  have  kept  for 
yourself." 

And  she  took  the  cup  out  of  his  hand. 

"  My  lord  brother,"  said  the  younger  son,  "  methinks  you 
have  too  much  of  this  roast  of  lamb  with  sweet  chestnuts  ; 
I  will  take  it,  if  you  please." 

And  he  put  the  roast  of  lamb  before  his  own  place. 

"  My  lord  son,"  said  his  mother,  "  you  do  not  much  Hke, 
it  seems,  this  fair  cheese  and  barley  tart,  give  it  to  me,  I 
pray  you." 

And  the  Miserable,  dumbfounded,  gave  it  to  her. 

"  My  lord  brother,"  said  the  younger  son,  "  you  have 
62 


Sir  Halewyn 

been  sitting  there  long  enough  Hke  an  emperor,  will  you  be 
pleased  to  stir  your  limbs  now  and  serve  us  ?  " 

And  the  Miserable,  getting  up,  served  them  as  he  was 
bidden. 

"  My  lord  son,"  said  his  mother,  "  I  see  you  now  sub- 
missive to  our  orders,  will  you  be  pleased  to  ask  my  pardon 
for  having  so  long  kept  me  standing  like  a  private  servant, 
fetching  you  food  and  drink,  though  I  am  your  mother  ?  " 

And  the  Miserable  fell  at  her  feet. 

"  My  lord  brother,"  said  the  younger  son,  "  wilt  thou  be 
pleased  to  fall  at  my  feet  likewise,  and  kiss  them,  for  that 
thou  hast  made  me  do  the  work  of  a  serf  ?  " 

"  That  I  will  not,"  said  the  Miserable. 

"  Thou  wilt  not  ?  " 

"  I  will  not,"  said  the  Miserable,  and  stepped  back  a 
pace. 

"  Come  hither,"  said  his  brother. 

"  I  will  not,"  said  the  Miserable. 

Then  the  younger  ran  at  him,  and,  bearing  him  to  the 
ground  without  difficulty,  began  thumping  and  pommelling 
him,  and  striking  him  in  the  face  with  his  golden  spurs,  say- 
ing :  "  Avenge  thyself,  Siewert  Halewyn  the  Invincible. 
None  can  stand  against  thee,  save  I.  Thou  hast  long  treated 
us  as  serfs  in  thy  house,  now  I  will  treat  thee  as  a  cheese 
and  crush  thee  underfoot.  Why  dost  thou  not  now  caper 
as  a  kid,  or  fly  away  as  a  bird,  Siewert  the  enchanted  ?  " 
and,  going  into  a  frenzy  of  rage,  he  drew  his  knife,  saying : 
"  I  will  cut  thee  off  thy  head  unless  thou  cry  mercy." 

"  I  will  not,"  said  the  Miserable. 

But  his  mother,  hearing  these  words,  took  quickly  from 
the  fire  a  handful  of  embers,  and  notwithstanding  their  heat, 
threw  them  into  the  eyes  and  mouth  of  the  younger  brother, 
saying  :   "  Thou  shalt  not  kill  my  first-born,  wicked  son." 

And  while  the  younger  brother  was  howling  by  reason  of 
the  pain  from  the  embers,  which  blinded  him,  his  mother 
took  the  knife  from  him,  and  while  he  was  twisting  this  way 

63 


Flemish  Legends 

and  that,  swinging  up  his  arms  to  strike  whomever  he  could, 
she  threw  him  down,  shut  him  up  in  the  room,  and  went 
out  dragging  her  first-born  after  her.  Then,  although  she 
was  feeble  with  age,  she  carried  Halewyn  up  into  the  tower 
on  her  back,  as  a  shepherd  carries  a  lamb  (for  he  had  quite 
lost  his  senses),  and  there  tended  him  and  bathed  his  face 
and  breast,  which  were  torn  and  bleeding,  and  there  at  night- 
fall left  him  and  went  away. 

XIV.  Of  the  great  weakness  of  Sir  Halewyn  and  of  the  days 
and  nights  which  he  spent  in  the  forest. 

The  Miserable,  alone  and  somewhat  comforted,  rose  to 
his  feet,  and  was  right  glad  to  feel  the  sickle  still  at  his  belt ; 
opened  the  door,  listened  to  make  sure  that  he  could  hear 
nothing,  and  that  his  brother  was  not  there. 

And  when  the  night  was  fully  dark,  went  down  the  stair 
slowly,  sitting-wise. 

For  he  was  so  weakened  by  the  blows  and  wounds  he  had 
received  that  he  could  not  hold  himself  upright  by  any  means  ; 
and  in  this  fashion  he  went  on  until  he  reached  the  bridge, 
and,  finding  that  still  down,  crossed  over  it. 

And  very  wearily  he  made  his  way  to  the  forest. 

But  he  could  not,  on  account  of  his  weakness,  go  so  far 
as  the  cottages,  which  were  a  good  two  leagues  distant  to 
the  northward. 

So,  lying  down  among  the  leaves,  he  sang. 

But  no  maid  came,  for  the  song  could  not  be  heard  from 
so  far  away. 

And  so  passed  the  first  day. 

When  night  came  again,  cold  rain  began  to  fall,  which 
sent  him  into  a  fever.  But  notwithstanding  this  he  would 
not  go  back  to  his  castle,  for  fear  of  his  brother.  Shivering, 
and  with  his  teeth  a-chattcr,  he  dragged  himself  northward 
through  the  brake,  and  saw  in  a  clearing  a  fair  pretty  maid, 
rosy-cheeked,  fresh,  slender,  and  neat,  and  he  sang  his  song. 
But  the  girl  did  not  come  to  him. 

64 


SIR  HALEWYN  IN  THE  WOOD 


Sir  Halewyn 

And  so  passed  the  second  day. 

That  night  the  rain  fell  anew,  and  he  could  not  move, 
so  stiff  was  he  from  the  cold,  and  he  sang,  but  no  maid  came. 
At  dawn  the  rain  continued,  and  while  he  was  lying  there 
among  the  leaves  a  wolf  came  and  sniffed  at  him,  thinking 
him  dead,  but  on  seeing  it  draw  near  he  cried  out  in  a  terrible 
fashion,  and  the  wolf  took  fright  and  went  off.  Then  he 
grew  hungry,  but  could  find  himself  nothing  to  eat.  At 
vespers  he  sang  anew,  but  no  maid  came. 

And  so  passed  the  third  day. 
Towards  midnight  the  sky  cleared,  and  the  wind  grew 
warmer.  But  the  Miserable,  though  he  was  suffering  greatly 
from  hunger,  thirst,  and  weariness,  dared  not  sleep.  On  the 
morning  of  the  fourth  day  he  saw  a  girl  coming  towards  him 
who  seemed  to  be  a  burgess's  daughter.  The  girl  would 
have  run  away  on  seeing  him,  but  he  cried  out  loudly  : 
"  Help  me  !  I  am  worn  out  with  hunger  and  sickness." 
Then  she  drew  near  to  him  and  said  :  "  I  also  am  hungry." 
''  Art  thou,"  he  said,  "  a  maid  ?  "  "  Ah,"  said  she,  "  I 
have  had  to  flee  from  Bruges,  because  the  priests  would 
have  burnt  me  alive,  on  account  of  a  brown  mole  which  I 
have  on  my  neck,  of  the  size  of  a  pea,  coming,  they  say, 
from  my  having  had  fleshly  commerce  with  the  devil.  But 
I  have  never  seen  the  devil,  and  do  not  know  what  he  is 
like." 

He,  without  listening  to  her,  asked  again  if  she  were  a 
virgin,  and,  as  the  girl  said  nothing,  he  sang  his  song. 

But  she  did  not  move  from  where  she  stood,  only  saying  : 
"  You  have  a  very  sweet  and  strong  voice  for  one  so  wasted 
with  sickness  and  hunger." 

Then  he  said  to  her  :  "  I  am  the  lord  Siewert  Halewyn. 
Go  to  my  castle  and  ask  to  be  taken  to  my  lady  mother,  and 
without  speaking  to  any  one  else,  whosoever  he  be,  tell  her 
that  her  son  is  hard  put  to  it  in  the  forest  with  hunger,  fever, 
and  weariness,  and  will  die  before  long  if  none  bring  him 
help." 

E  65 


Flemish  Legeiids 

The  girl  went  off  as  he  bid  her,  but  coming  out  of  the 
wood  she  saw  in  the  Gallows-field  the  body  of  the  maid  hang- 
ing, and  ran  away  in  a  fright.  Passing  into  the  territory  of 
Sir  Roel  de  Heurne  she  craved  food  and  drink  at  the  cottage 
of  one  of  his  peasants.  And  there  she  told  how  she  had 
found  Sir  Halewyn  dying  of  hunger.  But  she  was  told  in 
reply  that  the  said  lord  was  crueller  and  more  wicked  than 
the  devil  himself,  and  should  be  left  to  be  eaten  by  the  wolves 
and  other  beasts  of  the  forest. 

And  the  Miserable  waited,  lying  in  the  leaves  in  great 
anguish. 

And  so  passed  the  fourth  day. 

And  at  dawn  of  the  fifth,  having  seen  no  more  of  the  girl, 
he  supposed  that  she  had  been  caught  by  the  priests  and 
taken  back  to  Bruges  to  be  burnt. 

Quite  disheartened,  and  chilled  with  the  cold,  and  saying 
that  he  would  soon  die,  he  cursed  the  Prince  of  the  Stones. 
;  Nevertheless,  at  vespers  he  sang  once  more. 

And  he  was  then  by  the  side  of  a  forest  way. 

And  he  saw  coming  through  the  trees  a  fair  maid,  who 
fell  on  her  knees  before  him. 

And  he  did  to  her  as  he  had  done  to  the  others. 

Then  rose  full  of  fresh  strength,  vigour,  and  beauty,  and 
with  the  heart  resting  against  his  own  went  off  to  the  Gallows- 
iield,  carrying  the  body,  and  there  hanged  it  by  that  of  the 
first  virgin. 

XV .  How  the  Miserable^  having  hanged,  fifteen  virgins  in  the 
Gallowsfield,  held  wicked  revels  and  cruel  orgies. 

Sir  Halewyn  became  most  powerful  and  greatly  feared, 
and  killed  up  to  fifteen  virgins,  whom  he  hanged  in  the 
Gallows-field . 

And  he  led  a  riotous  life,  eating,  drinking,  and  carousing 
continually. 

All  those  ladies  who  had  made  fun  of  him  in  the  days  of 
his  impotence  and  ugliness  were  brought  to  his  castle. 
66 


Sir  Ha/ewy?i 

And  having  had  his  will  of  them  he  turned  them  out  of 
doors  like  bitches,  so  wreaking  upon  them  his  evil  vengeance. 

And  from  Lille,  Ghent,  and  Bruges  came  the  most  beauti- 
ful courtesans,  with  their  badge  on  their  arms,  and  they 
ministered  to  his  pleasure  and  to  that  of  his  friends,  among 
whom  the  more  evil  were  Diederich  Pater-noster,  so  called 
because  he  was  a  great  frequenter  of  churches  ;  Nellin  the 
Wolf,  who  in  battle  attacked  only  the  fallen,  as  wolves  do  ; 
and  Baudouin  Sans  Ears,  who  in  his  court  of  justice  always 
cried  :  "  Death,  death,"  without  waiting  to  hear  any  defence 
whatever. 

In  company  with  the  fair  courtesans  these  same  lords 
held  revels  and  orgies  without  end,  and  took  from  their  poor 
peasants  all  they  had,  corn,  cheese,  jewels,  cocks,  oxen, 
calves,  and  swine. 

Then,  having  stuffed  themselves  as  full  as  they  could 
hold,  threw  to  their  dogs  choice  viands  and  rich  cakes  : 

Gave  to  be  broken  and  pounded  up  for  their  hawks  and 
falcons,  the  meat  of  fowls,  cockerels,  and  doves  ;  had  the 
hooves  of  their  horses  bathed  in  wine. 

Oftentimes  until  midnight,  or  even  until  cock-crow,  there 
would  be  beating  of  drums,  trilling  of  pipes,  squeaking  of 
viols,  skirling  of  bagpipes,  and  winding  of  horns,  for  their 
entertainment. 

XVI.  How  the  burgesses  of  the  good  tozun  of  Ghent  gave  protec- 
tion to  the  virgins  of  the  domain  of  Halezvyn. 

Meanwhile  in  the  cottages  of  the  peasant  folk  were  tears, 
hunger,  and  great  misery. 

And  when  the  fifteenth  maid  had  been  taken  in  the 
domain  of  Halewyn, 

The  mothers  prayed  to  God  that  he  would  make  them 
barren,  or  else  that  they  might  bear  men-children  only. 

And  the  fathers  complained  and  said  to  one  another 
sadly  :  "  Is  it  not  a  pitiful  thing  to  see  these  sweet  and  gentle 
flowers  of  youth  so  brought  to  death  and  dishonour  !  " 

6j 


Flemish  Lege? ids 

And  some  among  them  said  :  "  Let  us  go  by  night  to  the 
good  town  of  Ghent,  taking  with  us  all  our  virgin  daughters, 
and  tell  the  whole  tale  to  the  burgesses,  begging  their  blessed 
protection  for  them,  and  leaving  them  there  in  the  town  if 
we  are  so  permitted.  So  they  will  escape  death  at  the  hands 
of  our  master." 

Every  one  who  heard  this  plan  thought  it  a  good  one  ; 
and  all  the  peasants  with  daughters  who  were  virgins  took 
them  off  to  Ghent,  and  there  told  the  story  to  the  commune, 
and  the  good  men  gave  them  protection. 

Then  with  lighter  hearts  the  peasants  returned  to  the 
domain  of  Halew^m. 

XVII.  Of  what  Sir  Halezvyn  did  on  the  borders  of  his  domain. 
Not  long  afterwards  a  hard  winter  set  in,  with  bitter  cold 

and  furious  storm. 

And  the  heart  of  the  fifteenth  virgin  no  longer  beat 
strong  against  Sir  Halewyn's  breast. 

And  he  sang,  but  none  came.  Wherefore  he  was  dis- 
appointed and  angry. 

But  calling  to  mind  that  there  were,  in  the  castle  of  Sir 
Roel  de  Heurne,  two  girls  supposed  by  common  report  to  be 
virgins, 

And  that  this  castle  was  no  more  than  the  fifth  part  of 
a  league  from  the  borders  of  his  land. 

And  that  therefore  the  two  maids  would  be  able  to  hear 
and  come  to  the  call  of  his  song. 

He  went  each  night  and  stationed  himself  on  the  farthest 
border  of  his  demesne,  and  there  sang  towards  the  said  castle, 
notwithstanding  the  bitter  cold,  and  the  snow  beginning  to 
fall  abundantly. 

XVIII.  Of  the    damosels    Magtelt    and    Anne-Mie,    and    of 
Schimmel  the  dapple-gray. 

While  the  Miserable  was  roaming  the  woods.  Sir  Roel  de 
Heurne  and  the  ladv  Gonde,  his  wife,  richly  clad,  and  wrapt 
68 


Sir  Ha/ewy?2 

round  with  deer-skins,  which  give  particular  warmth  to  the 
body,  were  sitting  snugly  on  their  coffers  before  their  good 
fire  of  oaken  logs,  chatting  together  as  old  folk  will. 

But  it  was  the  Lady  Gonde  who  spoke  most,  being  the 
woman. 

And  she  said  : 

"  My  good  man,  do  you  hear  the  storm  raging  furiously 
in  the  forest  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  answered  Sir  Roel. 

And  his  lady  said  further  : 

"  God  has  been  kind  to  give  us,  against  this  great  cold, 
such  a  fine  castle  so  strongly  built,  such  good  clothes,  and 
such  a  bright  fire." 

"  Yes,"  answered  the  Sire. 

"  But  above  all,"  said  she,  "  he  has  shown  us  his  divine 
grace  by  giving  us  such  good  and  brave  children." 

"  True,"  answered  the  Sire. 

"  For,"  said  she,  "  nowhere  could  you  find  a  young  man 
more  valiant,  courteous,  gentle,  and  fitter  to  uphold  our 
name  than  Toon,  our  son." 

"  Yes,"  said  the  Sire,  "  he  has  saved  my  life  in  battle." 

"  But,"  said  his  lady,  "  he  has  this  fault,  that  he  is  so 
scant  of  words  that  we  scarce  know  the  tone  of  his  voice. 
He  is  well  called  the  Silent." 

"  There  is  better  worth  to  a  man,"  said  the  Sire,  "  in  a 
good  sword  than  in  a  long  tongue." 

"  Here  I  see  you,  my  lord,"  said  the  lady,  "  pent  up  with 
your  reflections,  for  sadness  and  gravity  are  the  lot  of  old 
age,  but  I  know  well  a  certain  maid  who  would  smooth  out 
your  forehead  and  set  you  laughing." 

"  'Tis  possible,"  said  the  Sire. 

"  Yes,"  said  she,  "  it  is  certainly  possible,  for  when 
Magtelt  our  daughter  comes  into  this  room,  I  shall  see  my 
lord  and  husband  turn  happy  at  once." 

At  these  words  Sir  Roel  nodded  his  head  and  smiled  a 
Httle. 

69 


Flemish  Legends 

"  Yes,  yes,"  said  his  lady,  "  for  when  Magtelt  laughs, 
then  laughs  my  old  Roel ;  when  she  sings,  then  my  old  Roel 
grows  thoughtful  and  nods  his  head  happily,  and  if  she 
passes  by,  he  follows  with  smiling  eyes  each  step  of  his  little 
daughter." 

"  True,  Gonde,"  said  the  Sire. 

"  Yes,  yes,"  said  she,  "  for  who  is  the  well-being  and  joy 
of  this  house  ?  'Tis  not  I,  who  am  old,  and  losing  my  teeth 
one  by  one  ;  nor  you  either,  my  fellow  in  antiquity  ;  nor  the 
Silent  either  ;  nor  Anne-Mie  the  private  servant,  who,  though 
she  is  very  sweet  and  healthy  in  her  person,  is  something  too 
quiet  in  her  ways,  and  laughs  only  when  she  is  set  laughing. 
But  she  who  makes  our  old  age  happy,  she  who  is  the  nightin- 
gale in  the  house,  she  who  is  always  coming  and  going,  pass- 
ing and  repassing,  flying  hither  and  thither,  singing  and 
singing  again,  as  happy  as  a  peal  of  bells  at  Christmastide  : 
'tis  our  good  daughter." 

"  So  it  is,"  said  the  Sire. 

"  All,"  said  his  lady  further,  "  it  is  a  happy  thing  for  us 
to  have  such  a  child,  since  both  of  us  have  already  cold  in 
our  feet  at  all  seasons.  For  without  her  we  should  pass  our 
time  in  sadness,  and  from  our  old  feet  the  cold  would  creep 
up  to  our  hearts,  and  so  we  should  be  taken  to  our  graves 
more  quickly." 

"  Yes,  wife,"  said  the  Sire. 

"  Ah.,^^  said  she,  "  another  damosel  would  have  wished 
for  love-suitors,  and  to  go  to  the  court  of  My  Lord  to  get  a 
husband.  But  our  little  maid  gives  no  thought  to  that,  for 
hereabout  she  loves  no  one  but  ourselves,  and  her  who  goes 
everywhere  with  her,  and  is  as  a  sister  to  her,  Anne-Mie  the 
private  servant  ;  but  not  without  teasing  her  a  little  in  order 
to  make  her  laugh." 

"  True,"  said  the  Sire. 

"  Yes,  yes,"  said  his  lady,  "  and  every  one  loves  her, 
admires  her,  and  respects  her,  pages,  grooms,  varlets,  men- 
at-arms,  private  servants,  serfs,  and  peasants,  so  joyous  and 
70 


Sir  Halewyjt 

merry  is  she,  so  brave  and  gentle  is  her  bearing.  There  is 
no  one,  even  down  to  Schimmel,  the  great  war-horse,  who 
does  not  follow  her  like  a  dog.  Ah  !  When  he  sees  her 
coming  he  whinnies  joyously  ;  and  she  alone  must  bring 
him  his  oats  and  corn  ;  from  none  other  will  he  take  a  grain. 
She  treats  him  like  a  man,  and  often  gives  him  a  great  draught 
of  clauzuaert,  which  he  drinks  up  with  relish.  She  makes 
herself  understood  to  him  by  words,  but  she  must  never  be 
cross  with  him,  or  he  makes  as  if  to  weep,  and  looks  at  her 
with  so  sad  a  manner  that  she  cannot  withstand  it  and  then 
calls  him  to  her,  saying :  '  Beautiful  Schimmel,  brave 
Schimmel,'  and  other  soft  words  ;  hearing  which  the  good 
dapple-gray  gets  up  and  comes  close  to  her  to  have  more 
compliments.  He  suffers  no  one  on  his  back  but  she,  and 
when  he  is  carrying  her  he  is  as  proud  as  My  Lord  of  Flanders 
at  the  head  of  his  good  barons  and  knights.  So  she  has  her 
sovereignty  over  every  one,  by  joyousness,  goodness,  and 
fair  speaking." 

"  Yes,"  said  the  Sire. 

"  Ah,"  said  his  lady,  "  may  the  very  good  God  watch 
over  our  little  one,  and  may  our  old  ears  hear  this  fledgeling 
nightingale  singing  always." 

"  Amen,"  said  the  Sire. 

XIX.  How  Magtelt  sang  to  Sir  Roel  the  lied  of  the  Lion, 
and  the  song  of  the  Four  Witches. 

While  Sir  Roel  and  the  lady  Gonde  were  talking  together, 

The  snow  had  fallen  in  great  quantity, 

And  had  quite  covered  Magtelt  and  Anne-Mie,  who  were 
coming  back  from  having  taken  an  eagle-stone  to  the  wife 
of  Josse,  for  her  to  bind  to  her  left  thigh  and  so  get  ease  in 
her  lying-in. 

And  the  girls  came  into  the  great  hall,  where  Sir  Roel 
was  sitting  with  his  good  wife. 

Magtelt,  drawing  close  to  her  father,  knelt  to  him  in 
salutation. 

71 


Flemish  Legends 

And  Sir  Roel,  having  raised  her  up,  kissed  her  on  the 
brow. 

But  Annc-Mie  stayed  quietly  in  a  corner,  as  became  a 
private  servant. 

And  it  was  a  good  sight  to  see  these  two  maids  wholly 
covered  with  snow. 

"  Jesus-Maria,"  said  the  lady  Gonde,  "  see  these  two 
sillies,  what  have  they  been  doing  to  get  themselves  clothed 
in  snow  in  this  fashion  ?  To  the  fire  quickly,  children  ;  draw 
to  the  fire  and  dry  yourselves." 

"  Silence,  wife,"  said  Sir  Roel,  "  you  make  youth  faint- 
heart. In  my  young  days  I  went  through  cold,  snow,  hail, 
thunder,  and  tempest  without  a  thought.  And  so  do  I  still, 
when  there  is  need  to,  and  I  will  have  Magtelt  do  the  same. 
Thanks  be  to  God  !  'tis  not  from  a  fire  of  logs  that  a  daughter 
of  ours  must  get  warmth,  but  from  the  natural  fire  which 
burns  in  the  bodies  of  the  children  of  old  Roel." 

But  Magtelt,  seeing  him  about  to  grow  angry,  went  and 
knelt  at  his  feet. 

"  Lord  father,"  said  she,  "  we  are  not  cold  at  all,  for  we 
have  been  leaping,  dancing  and  frolicking  so  heartily,  thump- 
ing and  drubbing  each  other,  that  we  turned  winter  into 
spring  ;  furthermore  we  sang  some  fine  songs,  which  I  beg 
you  will  give  me  leave  to  sing  over  again  to  you." 

"  So  I  will,  little  one,"  said  Sir  Roel.  So  Magtelt  sang 
him  the  lied  of  Roeland  de  Heurne  the  Lion,  who  came  back 
from  the  Holy  Land,  and  brought  thence  a  great  sword ;  and 
also  the  song  of  the  Four  Witches,  wherein  you  may  hear 
mewling  of  cats,  bleating  of  goats,  and  the  noise  which  they 
make  with  their  tails  in  rainy  weather. 

And  Sir  Roel  forgot  his  anger. 

When  Magtelt  had  done  singing  he  caused  supper  to  be 
served  and  the  cross  lit  up,  which  threw  over  them  a  bright 
light  from  the  four  lamps  burning  at  the  end  of  each 
arm. 

And  he  made  his  daughter  sit  at  his  side. 

72 


Sir  Ha/ewyn 

Anne-Mie  came  likewise  to  sit  at  table,  beside  the  lady 
Gonde,  who  said  :   "  Young  company  warms  old  folk." 

And  there  were  served  to  them  that  evening  fine  white 
bread,  beef  salted  and  smoked  in  the  chimney  among  the 
sweet  smoke  of  fir-cones,  Ghent  sausage,  which  was  invented, 
they  say,  by  Boudwin  the  Glutton^  bastard  of  Flanders,  and 
old  dauwaert. 

Supper  finished,  and  a  prayer  spoken,  Magtelt  and  Anne- 
Mie  went  off  to  bed,  in  the  same  room,  for  Magtelt  loved 
Anne-Mie  like  a  sister  and  would  have  her  by  her  side  at 
all  times. 

XX.  Of  the  sixteenth  virgin  hanged. 

Magtelt,  with  laughter,  singing,  and  frolic,  soon  fell  asleep. 

But  Anne-Mie,  being  somewhat  cold,  could  not  close  her 
eyes. 

And  the  Miserable  came  and  stationed  himself  on  the 
border  of  his  land.  Thence  his  voice  rang  out  clear,  soft, 
and  melodious. 

And  Anne-Mie  heard  it,  and,  forgetting  that  she  was  but 
lightly  clad,  rose  up  and  went  out  of  the  castle  by  the  postern. 

When  she  came  into  the  open  the  snow  smote  harshly 
on  her  face,  her  breast,  and  her  shoulders. 

And  she  tried  to  shield  herself  against  this  bitter  cold  and 
evil  snow,  but  could  not,  for  she  had  lain  down  to  sleep 
nearly  naked. 

Going  towards  the  song  she  passed  barefoot  across  the 
moat,  whereof  the  water  was  hard  frozen. 

And  trying  to  mount  the  farther  bank,  which  was  high 
and  slippery,  she  fell ; 

And  cut  a  great  wound  in  her  knee. 

Having  picked  herself  up  she  entered  the  forest,  wounding 
her  bare  feet  on  the  stones,  and  her  numbed  body  on  the 
branches  of  trees. 

But  she  went  her  way  without  heeding. 

When  she  drew  near   to   the   Miserable  she  fell  on  her 

73 


Flemish  Legends 

knees  before  him.     And  he  did  to  her  as  he  had  done  to  the 
others. 

And  Annc-Mie  was  the  sixteenth  virgin  hanged  in  the 
Gallows-field. 

XXI.  How  Magtelt  sought  Anne-Mie. 

On  the  morrow  Magtelt,  being,  as  was  customary,  the 
first  awake,  said  her  prayers  to  My  Lord  Jesus  and  to  Madam 
Saint  Magtelt,  her  blessed  patron. 

Having  besought  them  earnestly  for  Sir  Roel,  the  lady 
Gonde,  the  Silent,  and  all  the  household,  most  particularly 
for  Anne-Mie,  she  looked  at  the  maid's  bed,  and  seeing  its 
curtains  half  drawn  she  supposed  that  her  companion  was 
still  asleep  ;  and  so,  putting  on  her  fine  clothes,  she  kept 
saying  as  she  moved  up  and  down  the  room,  or  looked  at 
herself  in  the  mirror-glass  : 

''  Ho,  Anne-Mie,  wake  up,  wake  up,  Anne-Mie  !  Who 
sleeps  late  comes  last  to  grass.  The  sparrows  are  awake 
and  the  hens  also,  and  already  their  eggs  are  laid.  Wake 
up,  Anne-Mie,  Schimmel  is  neighing  in  the  stable,  and  the 
sun  is  shining  bright  on  the  snow  ;  my  lord  father  is  scolding 
the  servants,  and  my  lady  mother  is  interceding  for  them. 
Canst  not  smell  the  savoury  odour  of  beans  and  good  beef 
broiled  with  spices  ?  I  can  smell  it  well  enough,  and  it 
makes  me  hungry  ;  wake  up,  Anne-Mie."  But  the  girl  could 
not  possess  herself  in  patience  any  longer,  and  threw  the 
curtains  wide  open. 

Finding  no  Anne-Mie  :  "  There  !  "  she  said,  "  the  rogue, 
she  has  gone  down  without  me  ;  and  without  me,  no  doubt, 
is  at  this  same  moment  eating  those  good  beans  and 
beef." 

And  going  down  the  stairs  at  a  run  Magtelt  entered  the 
great  hall,  where,  seeing  Sir  Roel  her  father,  she  knelt  to 
him  and  asked  his  blessing,  and  then  likewise  to  the  lady 
Gonde. 

But  her  mother  said  to  her  :    "  WTicre  is  Anne-Mie  ?  " 

74 


Sir  Halewyn 

"  I  cannot  tell,"  said  Magtelt,  "  she  is  having  some  fun 
with  us,  I  suppose,  hidden  in  some  corner," 

"  That,"  said  Sir  Roel,  "  is  not  her  way,  for  if  any  one 
here  makes  fun  of  others  'tis  not  she,  but  thou,  little  one." 

"  My  lord  father,"  said  Magtelt,  "  you  make  me  anxious 
by  talking  so." 

"  Well,"  said  Sir  Roel,  "  go  and  seek  Anne-Mie  ;  as  for 
us,  mother,  let  us  eat ;  our  old  stomachs  cannot  wait  for 
food  as  well  as  these  young  ones." 

"  Ah,"  said  the  lady  Gonde,  "  I  have  no  mind  to  eat ; 
go,  Magtelt,  and  find  me  Anne-Mie." 

But  Sir  Roel  helped  himself  to  a  great  platterful  of  beans 
and  good  beef,  and,  falling  to  it,  said  that  nothing  was  so 
easily  put  out,  troubled,  made  anxious,  as  a  woman,  and 
this  for  nothing  at  all. 

Nevertheless  he  was  himself  a  little  uneasy,  and  from 
time  to  time  looked  up  at  the  door,  saying  that  the  rascal 
of  a  girl  would  show  herself  suddenly  from  somewhere. 

But  Magtelt,  after  searching  the  whole  castle  over,  came 
back  and  said  :    "  I  can  find  Anne-Mie  nowhere." 

XXII.  How  Magtelt  wept  bitterly,  and  of  the  fine  dress  which 
she  had. 

And  Magtelt  had  great  sorrow  in  her  heart,  and  wept, 
and  made  lament,  crying  :  "  Anne-Mie,  where  art  thou  ? 
Would  I  could  see  thee  again  !  "  And  falling  on  her  knees 
before  Sir  Roel,  she  said  :  "  My  lord  father,  I  pray  you  to 
send  our  men-at-arms  in  goodly  number  in  search  for  Anne- 
Mie." 

"  So  I  will,"  said  he. 

The  men-at-arms  went  out,  but  dared  not  pass  on  to  the 
lands  of  Halewyn  from  fear  of  the  spell. 

And  on  their  return  they  said  :  "  We  can  hear  nothing 
of  Anne-Mie." 

And  Magtelt  went  up  and  stretched  herself  on  her  bed,  and 
prayed  to  the  good  God  to  send  her  back  her  sweet  comrade. 

75 


Flemish  Legends 

On  the  second  day  she  went  and  sat  before  the  glazed 
window,  and  without  intermission  looked  out  all  day  at  the 
countryside  and  the  falling  snow,  and  watched  to  see  if 
Anne-Mie  were  coming. 

But  Anne-Mie  could  not  come. 

And  on  the  third  day  the  lids  of  her  eyes  bled  for  weeping. 
And  on  that  day  the  snow  ceased  falling,  the  sky  became 
clear,  the  sun  shone  therein,  and  the  earth  was  hard  frozen. 

And  every  day  in  the  same  place  went  and  sat  the  sorrow- 
ing Magtelt,  watching  the  countryside,  thinking  of  Anne-Mie 
and  saying  nothing. 

Sir  Roel,  seeing  her  so  low-hearted,  sent  to  Bruges  for 
some  blue  cloth-of-scarlet,  for  her  to  make  herself  a  dress, 
and  fine  Cyprian  gold  for  the  border,  and  fine  gold  buttons 
of  rich  w^orkmanship. 

Magtelt  worked  away  at  making  this  dress,  but  took  no 
pleasure  at  all  at  the  thought  of  all  this  fine  apparel. 

And  so  passed  away  the  week,  and  each  day  Magtelt 
worked  at  her  dress,  saying  nothing  and  singing  never,  but 
weeping  oftentimes. 

On  the  fifth  day,  when  the  dress  was  finished,  well  trimmed 
with  the  Cyprian  gold  and  embellished  with  the  rich  buttons, 
the  lady  Gonde  bade  Magtelt  don  it,  and  then  showed  her 
her  magnificence  in  a  great  mirror-glass  ;  but  Magtelt  had 
no  heart  to  be  glad  at  seeing  herself  so  beautiful,  for  she  was 
thinking  of  Anne-Mie. 

And  the  lady  Gonde,  seeing  how  sad  she  was  and  silent, 
wept  also,  saying  :  ""  Since  our  Magtelt  stopped  singing  I 
have  felt  more  bitterly  the  chill  of  winter  and  old  age." 

And  Sir  Roel  made  no  murmur,  but  became  sullen  and 
pensive,  and  drank  dauwaert  all  day. 

And  at  times,  turning  angry,  he  bade  Magtelt  sing  and 
be  cheerful. 

And  the  maid  sang  merry  lieds  to  the  old  man,  who  then 
turned  joyous  again,  and  Gonde  as  well. 

And  they  spent  all  their  time  before  the  fire,  nodding 

75 


Sir  Halewyii 

their  heads.  And  they  said  :  "  The  nightingale  is  come  back 
again  to  the  house,  and  her  music  makes  the  fires  of  spring 
sunshine  stir  in  our  bones." 

And  Magtelt,  having  done  singing,  would  go  off  to  hide 
herself  in  a  corner  and  weep  for  Anne-Mie. 

XXIII.  Of  Toon  the  Silent. 

On  the  eighth  day,  the  Silent  went  wolf-hunting. 

Following  a  certain  beast  he  rode  into  the  domain  of 
Halewyn. 

And  at  vespers  the  lady  Gonde,  leaving  the  great  hall  to 
go  to  the  kitchen  for  the  ordering  of  supper,  on  opening  the 
door  saw  Toon  before  her.  He  seemed  loth  to  come  in,  and 
hung  his  head  as  if  with  shame. 

The  lady  Gonde,  going  to  him,  said  :  "  My  son,  why  do 
you  not  come  into  the  hall  to  bid  good  evening  to  the  lord 
your  father  ?  " 

The  Silent,  without  answering,  went  into  the  hall,  and 
muttering  short  and  sullen  words  by  way  of  salutation,  went 
to  sit  in  the  darkest  corner. 

And  the  lady  Gonde  said  to  Sir  Roel :  "  Our  son  is  angry 
at  something,  I  think,  since  he  goes  off  into  a  dark  corner 
far  away  from  us,  against  his  habit." 

Sir  Roel  said  to  the  Silent  :  "  Son,  come  hither  to  the 
light  that  we  may  see  thy  face." 

He  obeyed,  and  Sir  Roel,  the  lady  Gonde,  and  the  sorrow- 
ing Magtelt  saw  that  he  was  bleeding  from  the  head  and  from 
the  neck,  and  cast  down  his  eyes,  not  daring  to  look  them 
in  the  face. 

The  lady  Gonde  cried  out  with  fright  on  seeing  the  blood, 
and  Magtelt  came  to  him,  and  Sir  Roel  said  :  "  Who  has 
given  my  son  this  shamed  countenance,  this  downcast  heart, 
and  these  wounds  in  his  body  ?  " 

The  Silent  answered  :   "  Siewert  Halewyn." 

"  Why,"  said  Sir  Roel,  "  was  my  son  so  presumptuous 
as  to  attack  the  Invincible  ?  " 

77 


Flemish  Lege?tcls 

The  Silent  answered  :  "  Annc-Mie  hanged  in  the  Gallows- 
field  of  Siewert  Halcwyn." 

•  "  Woe  !  "  cried  Sir  Roel,  "  our  poor  maid  hanged  !   shame 
and  sorrow  upon  us  !  " 

"  Lord  God,"  said  Gonde,  "  you  smite  us  hard  indeed." 
And  she  wept. 

But  Magtelt  could  neither  weep  nor  speak  from  the 
bitterness  of  the  grief  which  laid  hold  upon  her. 

And  she  looked  at  her  brother  fixedly,  and  his  sunken 
face  blenched,  and  from  the  wounds  against  his  eyes  dropped 
tears  of  blood,  and  his  body  was  shaken  with  spasms. 

And  the  Silent  sank  into  a  seat,  weeping  dully  like  a 
wounded  lion. 

''  Ha,"  quoth  Sir  Roel,  hiding  his  face,  "  this  is  the  first 
man  of  the  house  of  Heurne  that  has  found  need  to  sit  weep- 
ing. Shame  upon  us,  and  without  redress,  for  there  is  a 
spell  woven." 

And  the  Silent  stuffed  his  fingers  into  the  wound  in  his 
neck,  pressing  out  the  blood  ;  but  he  felt  nothing  of  the 
pain. 

"  Toon,"  said  the  lady  Gonde,  "  do  not  dirty  your  wound 
with  your  fingers  in  this  wise  ;  you  will  poison  it,  my 
son." 

But  the  Silent  did  not  seem  to  hear. 

"  Toon,"  said  the  lady  Gonde,  "  do  not  do  it  ;  I,  your 
mother,  order  you.  Let  me  wash  away  this  blood  and  dress 
with  ointment  these  ugly  sores." 

While  she  hurried  to  prepare  the  ointment  and  to  warm 
the  water  in  a  washing-basin,  Toon  did  not  cease  his  groaning 
and  weeping.  And  he  tore  out  the  hair  from  his  beard  in  a 
rage. 

And  Sir  Roel,  watching  him,  said  :  "  When  a  man  weeps 
'tis  blood  and  shame,  shame  without  redress.  Halcwyn  has 
a  spell.  Ah,  presumptuous  one,  must  thou  then  go  to  his 
castle  to  brave  the  Invincible  ?  " 

"  Woe,  my  lord,"  said  the  lady  Gonde,  "  be  not  so  bitter 

78 


Sir  Halewyn 

angry  with  the  Silent,  for  he  showed  fine  courage  in  wishing 
to  avenge  Anne-Mie  on  the  Miserable." 

"Yes,"  said  Sir  Roel,  "  fine  courage  that  brings  shame 
to  our  house." 

"  Tell,"  said  she,  "  tell,  Toon,  the  tale  to  thy  father,  to 
show  him  that  thou  art  a  worthy  son  to  him  none  the  less." 

"  I  wish  it,"  said  Sir  Roel. 

"  My  lord  father,"  said  the  Silent,  groaning,  and  speaking 
in  short  breaths,  "  Anne-Mie  hanging,  Siewert  Halewyn  near 
to  the  gallows.  He  was  laughing.  I  ran  at  him,  cutting  at 
his  belly  with  my  sword  in  the  fashion  of  a  cross  to  break 
the  spell.  Invincible  !  He  laughed,  saying  :  '  I  will  take 
Magtelt.'  I  struck  him  with  a  knife  ;  the  blade  turned.  He 
laughed.  He  said  :  '  I  do  not  care  for  punishment,  be  off.' 
I  did  not  go.  I  struck  him  with  sword  and  knife  together  ; 
in  vain.  He  laughed.  He  said  again  :  '  Be  off.'  I  could 
not.  Then  he  struck  me  with  the  flat  of  his  sword  in  the 
neck  and  breast,  and  with  the  hilt  in  the  back,  like  a  serf. 
He  laughed.  I  lost  sense  from  the  blows.  Beaten  like  a 
serf,  my  lord  father,  I  could  do  naught  against  him." 

Sir  Roel,  having  heard  Toon  speak,  was  less  angered, 
understanding  that  he  had  not  been  presumptuous,  thinking 
also  of  his  great  pain  and  of  his  bitter  groaning  and  his 
grievous  shame. 

With  the  ointment  ready  and  the  water  warm,  the  lady 
Gonde  set  to  work  to  dress  the  wounds  of  her  son,  particu- 
larly that  on  his  neck,  which  was  a  deep  one. 

But  Magtelt  wept  never  a  tear,  and  soon  went  off  to  her 
bed,  not  without  a  blessing  from  Sir  Roel  her  father,  and 
her  lady  mother. 

The  three  stayed  a  long  while  together  before  the  fire, 
father,  mother,  and  son,  ^i^ithout  a  word  spoken,  for  the 
Silent,  moaning  all  the  while,  could  not  bear  his  defeat,  and 
the  lady  Gonde  wept  and  prayed  ;  and  Sir  Roel,  sad  and 
ashamed,  hid  his  face. 

79 


Fle^nish  Legends 

XXIV.  How  the  damosel  Magtelt  made  a  good  resolution. 
Magtelt,  before  she  lay  down  on  her  bed,  prayed,  but 

not  aloud.     And  her  face  was  hard  set  with  anger. 

And  having  undressed  she  lay  down  in  her  bed,  tugging 
at  her  breast  with  her  finger-nails  from  time  to  time,  as  if 
she  weie  fighting  for  breath. 

And  her  breathing  was  as  if  she  were  in  agony. 

For  she  was  bitter  sad  and  out  of  heart. 

But  she  did  not  weep. 

And  she  heard  the  high  wind,  forerunner  of  snow,  lifting 
over  the  forest,  and  roaring  like  a  stream  in  spate  after  heavy 
rain. 

And  it  tossed  against  the  window  glass  dried  leaves  and 
branches,  which  beat  on  the  pane  like  dead  men's  finger-nails. 

And  it  howled  and  whistled  sadly  in  the  chimney. 

And  the  sorrowing  maid  saw  in  her  mind's  eye  Anne- 
Mie  hanging  in  the  Gallows-field  and  her  poor  body  pecked 
by  the  crows,  and  she  thought  of  the  stain  on  her  brave 
brother's  honour,  and  of  the  fifteen  poor  virgins  outraged  by 
the  Miserable. 

But  she  did  not  weep. 

For  in  her  breast  was  a  dumb  pain,  harsh  anguish,  and 
a  bitter  thirst  for  vengeance. 

And  she  asked  very  humbly  of  Our  Lady  if  it  w^ere  a 
good  thing  to  let  the  Miserable  any  longer  go  killing  the 
maidens  of  the  land  of  Flanders. 

And  at  cock-crow  she  rose  from  her  bed,  and  her  eves 
were  bright,  and  proud  was  her  countenance,  and  her  head 
held  high,  and  she  said  :   "  I  will  go  to  Halewyn." 

And  throwing  herself  on  her  knees  she  prayed  to  the 
very  strong  God  to  give  her  courage  and  stiength  for  the 
revenge  of  Anne-Mie,  Toon  the  Silent,  and  the  fifteen  virgins. 

XXV .  Of  the  sword  of  the  Lion. 

At  sun-up*she  went  to  Sir  Roel,  who  was  still  in  bed,  on 
account  of  the  cold, 
80 


Sir  Halewyn 

Seeing  her  come  in  and  fall  on  her  knees  before  him,  he 
said  :    "  What  wilt  thou,  little  one  ?  " 

"  My  lord  father,"  she  said,  "  may  I  go  to  Halewyn  ?  " 

At  this  he  became  afraid,  and  saw  well  enough  that  Mag- 
telt,  unable  to  rid  her  heart  of  the  thought  of  Anne-Mie,  was 
minded  to  avenge  her.     And  he  said  with  love  and  anger  : 

"  No,  my  daughter,  no,  not  thou  ;  who  goes  there  will 
not  come  again  !  " 

But  seeing  her  go  out  of  the  room  he  never  supposed  that 
she  would  fail  in  her  obedience. 

And  Magtelt  went  thence  to  the  lady  Gonde,  who  was 
praying  in  the  chapel  for  the  repose  of  Anne-Mie's  soul ;  and 
she  pulled  at  her  mother's  dress,  to  show  that  she  was 
there. 

When  the  lady  Gonde  turned  her  head,  Magtelt  fell  on 
her  knees  before  her  : 

"  Mother,"  said  she,  "  may  I  go  to  Halewyn  ?  " 

But  her  lady  mother  :  "  Oh  no,  child,  no,  not  thou  ;  who 
goes  there  will  not  come  again  !  " 

And  so  saying,  she  opened  her  arms  and  let  fall  the 
golden  ball  wherewith  she  warmed  her  hands,  so  that  the 
embers  spread  this  way  and  that  on  the  floor.  Then  she 
fell  to  moaning,  weeping,  trembling,  and  chatteiing  with  her 
teeth,  and  embraced  the  girl  tightly  as.  if  she  would  never 
let  her  go. 

But  she  never  supposed  that  she  could  fail  in  her  obedience. 

And  Magtelt  went  thence  to  Toon,  who,  despite  his 
wounds,  was  already  out  of  bed,  and  seated  on  his  coffer, 
warming  himself  before  a  new-lit  fire. 

"  Brother,"  she  said,  "  may  I  go  to  Halewyn  ?  " 

Saying  this  she  held  herself  straight  before  him. 

The  Silent  hfted  his  head  and  looked  at  her  severely, 
waiting  for  her  to  speak  further. 

"  Brother,"  she  said,  "  Siewert  Halewyn  has  killed  this 
sweet  maid  whom  I  loved  ;  and  has  done  the  same  to  fifteen 
other  pitiful  virgins,  who  are  hanging  in  the  Gallows-field 

F  8i 


Fle7?iish  Lege7tcis 

shamefully  ;    he  is  for  this  country  a  greater  evil  than  war, 
death,  and  pestilence  ;    brother,  I  would  kill  him." 

But  Toon  looked  at  Magtelt  and  answered  nothing. 

"  Brother,"  said  she,  "  thou  must  not  refuse  me,  for  my 
heart  bids  me  go.  Canst  thou  not  see  how  sad  and  down- 
cast I  am  in  this  house,  and  how  I  shall  die  of  sorrow  if  I 
do  not  that  which  I  should.  But  having  been  to  him  I  shall 
come  back  joyous  and  singing  as  before." 

But  the  Silent  said  not  a  word. 

"  Ah,"  she  said,  "  dost  fear  for  me,  seeing  how  many 
good  knights  have  assailed  him  and  been  by  him  shamefully 
overthrown,  even  thyself,  my  brave  brother,  who  earnest 
even  now  his  marks  ?  I  am  not  ignorant  that  on  his  shield 
is  written  :  '  None  can  stand  against  me.'  But  what  others 
could  not,  one  may  do.  He  goes  glorying  in  his  strength, 
more  terrible  than  an  oliphant,  prouder  than  a  lion,  thinking 
himself  invincible,  but  when  the  beast  goes  with  assurance 
the  hunter  follows  the  more  easily.  Brother,  may  I  go  to 
Halewyn  ?  " 

When  Magtelt  had  reached  so  far  in  her  speech,  suddenly 
there  fell  from  the  wall  whereon  it  was  fastened  a  fair  sword 
well  set  and  sharpened,  and  with  the  blade  stout  to  the  hilt. 
The  handpiece  was  of  cedar  of  Lebanon,  set  out  with  golden 
cresslets,  and  in  the  castle  this  sword  was  held  to  be  of 
marvellous  virtue  and  holiness,  because  it  had  been  brought 
from  the  crusade  by  Roeland  de  Heurne,  the  Lion.  And 
none  dared  use  it. 

The  sword,  falling,  lay  at  the  feet  of  Magtelt. 

"  Brother,"  said  Magtelt,  crossing  herself,  "  the  good 
sword  of  the  Lion  has  fallen  at  my  feet ;  'tis  the  very  strong 
God  showing  thus  his  will.  He  must  be  obeyed,  brother  ; 
let  me  go  to  Halewyn." 

And  Toon  the  Silent,  crossing  himself  as  Magtelt  had  done, 
answered  : 

"  'Tis  all  one  to  me  where  thou  go,  if  thou  cherish  thine 
honour  and  carry  thv  crown  straight." 
82 


Sir  Halewyn 

"  Brother,"  she  said,  "  I  thank  you."  And  the  noble 
maid  began  to  tremble  mightily  from  head  to  foot  ;  and  she 
who  had  not  shed  a  tear  on  heaiing  of  Anne-Mie's  death 
and  her  brother's  dishonour,  fell  to  weeping  abundantly, 
whereby  her  bitter  anger  was  melted,  and  bursting  into  tears 
by  reason  of  her  great  joy  she  said  again  :  "  Brother,  brother, 
'tis  the  hour  of  God  !     I  go  to  the  reckoning  !  " 

And  she  took  the  good  sword. 

The  Silent,  seeing  her  so  brave,  lifted  himself  straight 
before  her  and  put  his  hand  on  her  shoulder.  "  Go,"  said 
he. 

And  she  went  out. 

XXVI.  Of  the  noble  apparel  of  the  maid  Magtelt. 

In  her  own  room  she  dressed  herself  in  her  most  beautiful 
clothes  as  quickly  as  she  could. 

What  did  the  fair  maid  put  on  her  white  body  ?  A 
bodice  finer  than  silk. 

And  over  the  fine  bodice  ? 

A  robe  of  cloth-of-scarlet  of  Flemish  blue,  whereon  were 
the  arms  of  de  Heurne  marvellously  worked,  and  the  edges 
next  to  the  feet  and  the  neck  embroidered  with  fine  Cyprian 
gold. 

Wherewith  did  the  fair  maid  bind  in  her  slender  waist  ? 

With  a  girdle  of  the  hide  of  a  lion,  studded  with  gold. 

What  had  the  fair  maid  on  her  beautiful  shoulders  ? 

Her  great  keirle,  which  was  of  cramoisy  stitched  with 
Cyprian  gold,  and  covered  her  from  head  to  foot,  for  it  was 
an  ample  cloak. 

What  had  the  fair  maid  on  her  proud  head  ? 

A  fine  crown  of  beaten  gold,  whence  fell  tresses  of  pale 
hair  as  long  as  herself. 

What  held  she  in  her  little  hand  ? 

The  blessed  sword  brought  from  the  crusade. 

So  apparelled  she  went  out  to  the  stable,  and  harnessed 
Schimmel,  the  great  war-horse,  with  his  saddle  of  State,  a 

83 


Flemish  L,egends 

fine  leathern  seat,  painted  in  divers  colours,  and  richly  worked 
with  gold. 

And  they  set  out  together,  through  the  snow  falling 
thickly. 

XXVII.  How  Sir  Rod  and  the  lady  Gonde  questioned  Toon 
the  Silent,  and  of  zvhat  he  anszuered. 

While  Magtelt  was  on  her  way  to  Halewyn,  and  when  the 
first  hour  of  her  journey  had  already  gone  by,  the  lady  Gonde 
questioned  Sir  Roel :  "  Sir,"  she  said,  "  do  you  know  where 
our  daughter  may  be  ?  " 

Sir  Roel  said  that  he  knew  nothing  of  it  ;  and  speaking 
to  the  Silent  :  "  Son,"  said  he,  "  dost  thou  know  where  thy 
sister  has  gone  ?  " 

The  Silent  answered  quietly  :  "  Magtelt  is  a  brave  maid  ; 
whom  God  leads  he  leads  well." 

"  Sir,"  said  the  lady  Gonde,  "  do  not  put  yourself  to  the 
trouble  of  questioning  him  further,  for  saying  so  much  he 
has  used  up  his  words." 

But  Sir  Roel  to  Toon  :  "  Son,  dost  thou  not  know  where 
she  is  ?  " 

"  Magtelt,"  answered  he,  "  is  a  fair  maid,  and  carries  her 
crown  straight." 

"  Ah,"  exclaimed  the  lady  Gonde,  "  I  am  growing  anxious  ; 
where  is  she  then  ?  " 

And  she  went  off  to  search  the  castle  thoroughly. 

But  coming  back  she  said  to  Sir  Roel  :  "  She  is  nowhere  in 
the  house  ;   she  has  defied  our  orders  and  gone  to  Halewyn." 

"  Wife,"  said  Roel,  "  that  cannot  be.  Children,  in  this 
country,  were  always  obedient  to  their  parents." 

"  Toon,"  said  she,  "  where  is  she  ?  Toon,  do  you  not 
know  ?  " 

"  The  Miserable,"  he  answered,  "  fears  the  beautiful  maid  ; 
whom  God  leads  he  leads  well." 

"  Roel,"  cried  out  the  lady  Gonde,  "  he  knows  where  our 
Magtelt  has  gone  I  " 

84 


Sir  Halewy7t 

"  Son,  answer,"  said  Sir  Roel. 

The  Silent  answered  : 

"  The  sword  of  the  crusade  fell  from  the  wall  at  the  maid's 
feet.     Whom  God  guides  succeeds  in  everything." 

"  Toon,"  cried  the  lady  Gonde,  "  where  is  Magtelt  ?  " 

"  The  virgin,"  he  said,  "  rides  without  fear,  she  goes 
faster  than  the  armed  man  :  whom  God  leads  he  leads 
well." 

The  lady  Gonde  groaned  : 

"  Ah,"  she  said,  "  our  Magtelt  will  be  killed,  even  now 
she  is  stiff  frozen,  sweet  Jesus  !  The  sword  of  the  crusade 
is  of  no  avail  against  Siewert  Halewyn." 

The  Silent  answered  : 

"  He  glories  in  his  strength,  thinking  himself  invincible, 
but  when  the  beast  goes  with  assurance  the  hunter  follows 
more  easily." 

"  Wicked  son,  how  couldst  thou  think  to  send  the  little 
bird  to  the  hawk,  the  virgin  to  the  enemy  of  virgins  ?  " 

The  Silent  answered  : 

"  She  will  come  whither  none  looks  to  see  her  :  whom 
God  leads  he  leads  well." 

"  Sir,"  said  the  lady  Gonde  to  Roel,  "  you  hear  what  he 
says ;  she  has  gone  to  Halewyn,  and  'tis  this  wicked  son  that 
gave  her  leave." 

Sir  Roel  going  to  Toon  : 

"  Son,"  said  he,  "  we  had  here  but  one  joy,  that  was  our 
Magtelt.  Thou  hast  abused  thy  privilege  in  giving  her 
leave  to  go  thither.  If  she  comes  not  back  to  us  by  nightfall 
I  will  curse  thee  and  banish  thee  from  my  house.  May  God 
hear  me,  and  take  from  thee,  in  this  world  bread  and  salt, 
and  in  the  other  thy  portion  in  Paradise." 

"  God,"  said  the  Silent,  "  will  guide  the  sword.  Whoso- 
ever has  done  wrong,  on  him  let  fall  the  punishment." 

Gonde  began  crying  out,  weeping  and  making  dole.  Roel 
bade  her  be  silent,  and  sent  a  goodly  troop  of  men-at-arms 
in  the  direction  she  had  taken. 

85 


Flemish  Legends 

But  they  came  back  without  having  seen  anything  of 
Magtelt,  for  they  had  not  dared  to  go  into  the  territory  of 
Halewyn  by  reason  of  the  spelL 

XXV III.  T:he  riding  of  the  maid  Magtelt. 

Singing  and  winding  her  horn,  rides  the  noble  damosel. 

And  she  is  beautiful  with  a  beauty  from  heaven  ;  fresh 
and  rosy  are  her  cheeks. 

And  straight  she  carries  her  crown. 

And  her  little  hand  holds  fast  beneath  her  keirle  the  good 
sword  of  Roel  the  Lion. 

And  wide  open  are  her  fearless  eyes,  searching  the  forest 
for  Sir  Halewyn. 

And  she  listens  for  the  sound  of  his  horse. 

But  she  hears  nothing,  except,  in  the  heavy  silence,  the 
still  sound  of  snowflakes  falling  quietly  like  feathers. 

And  she  sees  nothing,  except  the  air  whitened  with  snow, 
and  white  also  the  long  road,  and  white  also  the  leafless 
trees. 

What  is  it  makes  the  flame  glow  in  her  clear  brown  eyes  ? 
It  is  her  high  courage. 

Why  does  she  carry  so  straight  her  head  and  her  crown  ? 
Because  of  the  great  strength  in  her  heart. 

What  is  it  so  swells  her  breast  ?  The  cruel  thought  of 
Anne-Mie,  and  her  brother's  shame  and  the  great  crimes  of 
Sir  Halewyn. 

And  ceaselessly  she  looks  to  see  if  he  be  not  coming,  and 
if  she  can  hear  nothing  of  the  sound  of  his  horse. 

But  she  sees  nothing,  except  the  air  whitened  with  snow, 
and  white  also  the  long  road,  and  white  also  the  leafless 
trees. 

And  she  hears  nothing,  except,  in  the  heavy  silence,  the 
still  sound  of  snowflakes  falling  quietly  like  feathers. 

And  she  sings. 

Then,  speaking  to  Schimmel,  she  said :  "  Together, 
good  Schimmel,  we  are  going  to  a  lion.  Canst  not  see  him 
86 


Sir  Halewyn 

in  his  cavern,  awaiting  passers-by,  and  devouring  poor 
maids  ?  " 

And  Schimmel,  hearing  her,  whinnied  joyously. 

"  Schimmel,"  said  Magtelt,  "  thou  art  glad,  I  see,  to  be 
going  to  the  revenge  of  Anne-Mie  with  the  good  sword." 

And  Schimmel  whinnied  a  second  time. 

And  Magtelt  sought  Sir  Halewyn  everywhere  as  she  went 
through  the  forest.  And  she  listened  well  for  the  sound  of 
his  horse,  and  looked  to  see  if  he  were  nowhere  coming. 

And  she  saw  nothing,  except  the  air  whitened  with  snow, 
and  white  also  the  long  road,  and  white  also  the  leafless 
trees. 

And  she  heard  nothing,  except,  in  the  heavy  silence,  the 
still  sound  of  snowflakes  falling  quietly  like  feathers. 

And  she  wound  her  horn. 

XXIX.  Of  the  crow  and  the  sparrow,  of  the  hound,  the  horse 
and  the  seven  echoes. 

When  she  reached  the  middle  part  of  the  forest,  she  saw 
through  the  thick  snowflakes  Sir  Halewyn  coming  towards 
her. 

The  Miserable  had  that  day  on  his  body  a  fine  dress  of 
blue  cloth,  on  which  was  broidered  in  two  colours  his  ugly 
arms.  Round  his  waist  he  had  a  fair  belt  studded  with 
lumps  of  gold,  and  at  his  belt  the  golden  sickle,  and  over  his 
dress  a  fair  op-perst-kleed  of  corn-coloured  cloth-of-scarlet. 

Riding  on  his  roan  horse  he  came  up  to  Magtelt,  and  she 
saw  that  he  was  handsome. 

Before  his  horse,  barking  and  making  a  great  noise,  ran 
a  hound  like  a  wolf,  which,  on  seeing  Schimmel,  leapt  at  him 
and  bit  him.  But  Schimmel,  with  a  great  kick  which  he 
let  fly,  set  him  dancing  a  sorry  dance,  and  singing  a  pitiful 
song  over  his  broken  paw. 

"  Ah,"  thought  the  maid,  "  God  grant,  brave  Schimmel, 
that  I  may  do  better  for  the  master  than  thou  hast  done  for 
the  dog." 

87 


Fle7?iish  Legends 

And  the  Miserable  came  to  her  : 

"  Salutation,"  he  said,  "  fair  maid  with  clear  brown  eyes." 

"  Salutation,"  she  said,  "  Siewert  Halewyn  the  In- 
vincible." 

But  the  Miserable  :  "  What  brings  thee,"  he  said,  "  into 
my  lands  ?  " 

"  My  heart,"  said  Magtelt,  "  bade  me  come,  I  wished 
greatly  to  see  thee,  and  am  content  now  that  I  can  look  at 
thee  face  to  face." 

"  So,"  said  he,  "  have  done  and  shall  do  all  virgins,  even 
more  beautiful  than  thou  art." 

While  they  were  talking  together  the  wounded  hound 
made  a  rush  at  the  horse  and  hung  on  to  Halewyn's  opperst' 
kleed  as  if  he  would  drag  him  down  to  the  ground. 

Having  done  this,  he  went  off  and  sat  down  in  the  snow 
beside  the  road,  and  there  lifting  up  his  muzzle  howled  most 
lamentably. 

"  See,"  said  he,  "  my  hound  crying  out  to  death.  Hast 
no  fear,  maid  ?  " 

"  I  go,"  she  said,  "  in  God's  keeping." 

Having  moved  forward  a  little  way,  talking  and  riding 
together,  they  saw  in  the  air  above  their  heads,  a  crow  of 
great  size,  on  whose  neck  was  perched  an  angry  little  sparrow, 
pecking  him,  clutching  him,  pulling  out  his  feathers  and 
piping  furiously.  Wounded,  torn  open,  flying  this  way  and 
that,  right,  left,  upward,  downward,  banging  against  the 
trees  blindly,  and  croaking  with  pain,  this  crow  at  length 
fell  dead,  with  his  eyes  pecked  out,  across  Halewyn's  saddle. 
Having  looked  at  it  a  moment,  he  tossed  it  aside  into  the 
road  ;  while  the  sparrow  flew  off  to  a  bough,  and  there, 
shaking  out  his  feathers  merrily,  fell  a-piping  at  the  top  of 
his  voice  in  celebration  of  his  victory. 

"  Ah,"  said  Magtelt,  laughing  to  the  sparrow,  "  thou  art 
of  noble  blood,  little  bird  ;  come  hither,  I  will  find  thee  a 
fair  cage  and  give  thee  thy  fill  of  wheat,  millet,  hemp,  and 
linseed." 


Sir  Halewy7i 

But  Halewyn  became  mightily  angry  :  "  Common  little 
insolent  !  "  he  cried,  "  would  that  I  had  thee  in  a  snare  ! 
Shouldst  not  then  sing  for  long  thy  victory  over  this  noble 
crow." 

None  the  less  the  sparrow  went  on  singing  without  a 
break,  and  in  this  wise  seemed  to  mock  at  Halewyn,  who 
said  to  Magtelt : 

"  Dost  dare  to  applaud  and  give  heart  to  this  little  animal, 
knowing  that  my  shield  bears  on  it  the  crow  of  my  glorious 
ancestor  Dirk  !  Knowest  thou  not  that  like  him  thou  hast 
but  little  longer  to  sing  ?  " 

"  I,"  she  said,  "  shall  sing  as  long  as  it  pleases  God,  my 
master." 

"  There  is  for  thee,"  said  he,  "  no  other  master  than  I, 
for  here  I  rule  alone."  Suddenly  he  turned  very  cold,  for 
the  heart  of  Anne-Mie,  though  it  still  beat,  was  become  like 
ice  in  his  breast.  So,  thinking  that  this  heart  was  about  to 
dry  up,  he  said  to  Magtelt  :  "  Thou  comest  in  good  season, 
fair  virgin." 

"  Whom  God  leads,"  said  she,  "  comes  always  in  good 
season." 

"  But,"  he  said,  "  who  art  thou,  riding  in  my  land,  singing 
and  winding  the  horn,  who  bringest  hither  such  insolent  talk  ?  " 

"  I,"  said  she,  "  am  the  Lady  Magtelt,  daughter  of  Roel 
le  Preux,  Lord  of  Heurne." 

"  And,"  said  he,  "  art  thou  not  chilled,  riding  thus  in  the 
snow  ?  " 

"  None,"  she  said,  "  feels  the  cold  in  the  race  of  the  Lords 
of  Heurne." 

"  And,"  said  he,  "  hast  thou  no  fear,  here  at  my  side  and 
on  my  own  land,  where  no  one  dares  to  set  foot  ?  " 

"  None,"  she  said,  "  knows  of  fear  in  the  race  of  the 
Lords  of  Heurne." 

"  Thou  art,"  said  he,  "  a  brave  maid." 

"  I,"  she  said,  "  am  daughter  of  Roel  le  Preux,  Lord  of 
Heurne." 

89 


Fle^nish  Legends 

He  answered  nothing  to  that,  and  they  went  on  a  while 
without  speaking. 

Suddenly  he  said,  lifting  his  head  arrogantly  :  "  Am  I 
not  truly  the  Invincible,  the  Beautiful,  the  Strong  ?  Shall 
I  not  be  so  always  ?  Yes,  for  all  things  come  to  my  aid  in 
the  hour  of  victory.  In  former  times  I  must  needs  sing,  in 
cold,  snow,  wind,  and  darkness,  to  call  virgins  to  me,  but 
now  the  most  proud,  noble,  and  beautiful  of  maids  comes 
hither  in  broad  day  without  song  to  call  her  :  sure  sign  of 
growing  power.  Who  is  my  equal  ?  None,  save  God.  He 
has  the  heavens  and  I  the  earth,  and  over  all  living  things 
triumph  and  mastery.  Let  come  what  may,  armies,  light- 
ning, thunder,  tempest  ;   who  can  stand  but  I  ?  " 

"  I  !  "  answered  to  his  hideous  blasphemy  seven  voices 
speaking  together. 

Those  voices  were  the  echo  of  the  Seven  Giants,  which 
sent  back  every  sound  seven  times  over  with  great  force 
and  volume. 

But  the  Miserable  :  "  Hark !  "  said  he,  "  my  Lord  Echo 
dares  to  mock  the  Invincible." 

And  he  burst  our  laughing. 

But  the  echo  burst  out  laughing  likewise,  and  laughed 
loud,  long,  and  terribly. 

And  Halewyn  appeared  well  pleased  at  the  noise,  and 
went  on  laughing,  with  the  seven  echoes  after  him. 

And  it  seemed  to  Magtelt  as  it  were  a  thousand  men 
hidden  in  the  forest. 

And  meanwhile  the  hound  had  taken  fright  and  howled 
so  desperately  that  it  seemed  to  Magtelt  as  it  were  a  thousand 
hounds  in  the  forest  crying  out  to  death. 

The  Miserable's  horse  had  taken  fright  also,  and  was  so 
terrified  at  his  master's  laughter,  the  dog's  howls,  and  his 
own  neighing,  all  ringing  out  together,  that  he  plunged, 
reared,  stood  up  on  his  hind  legs  like  a  man,  laid  back  his 
ears  with  fear,  and  would,  without  doubt,  have  thrown 
Halewyn  from  his  back,  if,  driving  him  onward  with  his 
90 


Sir  Halewyn 

spurs,  he  had  not  made  him  pass  by  force  the  place  of  the 
seven  echoes. 

But  Schimmel  had  not  moved  at  all,  and  this  strangely 
enough,  for  he  was  a  young  horse,  apt  to  be  alarmed. 

When  the  noise  was  over  they  rode  on  their  way,  speaking 
few  words  together  as  they  rode. 

And  together  they  came  to  the  Gallows-field. 

XXX.  How  Magtelt  came  to  the  Gallows-field. 

There  Magtelt  saw  the  sixteen  virgins  hanging,  and  amongst 
them  Anne-Mie,  and  all  were  covered  over  with  snow. 

Halewyn's  horse  began  again  to  rear,  plunge,  and  lay 
back  his  ears  as  a  sign  of  fear  ;  but  Schimmel  neighed,  and 
pawed  the  ground  proudly  with  his  hoof. 

And  Halewyn  said  to  Magtelt :  "  Thou  hast  there  an 
unfaithful  friend,  who  can  neigh  happily  at  the  hour  of  thy 
death." 

But  Magtelt  answered  nothing,  and  looking  steadfastly 
at  those  poor  virgins  prayed  to  the  very  strong  God  to  help 
her  in  their  revenge. 

Meanwhile  the  Miserable  alighted  from  his  horse,  and 
taking  the  golden  sickle  in  his  hand  came  towards  Magtelt. 

"  It  is,"  he  said,  "  the  hour  of  thy  death.  Get  down, 
therefore,  as  I  have  done." 

And  in  his  impatience  he  would  have  lifted  her  from 
Schimmel's  back. 

But  Magtelt : 

"  Leave  me,"  she  said,  "  to  get  down  by  myself  ;  if  I 
must  die  'twill  be  without  weeping." 

"  Thou  art  a  fine  girl,"  said  he. 

And  she,  having  dismounted  from  her  horse,  said  :  "  My 
lord,  before  thou  strikest,  doff  thine  opperst-kleed  of  the 
colour  of  corn,  for  the  blood  of  virgins  gushes  fiercely,  and 
if  mine  should  stain  thee  I  should  be  grieved." 

But  before  the  opperst-kleed  was  off  his  shoulders,  his 
head  fell  to  the  ground  at  his  feet. 

91 


Fle^nish  L,ege7tds 

And  Magtelt,  looking  at  the  body,  said  :  "  He  strode 
confidently,  thinking  himself  invincible  ;  but  when  the  beast 
goes  with  assurance  the  hunter  follows  more  easily." 

And  she  crossed  herself. 

XXXI.  Of  the  sixteen  deaths  and  of  the  Prince  of  the  Stones. 

Suddenly  the  head  spoke,  saying  :  "  Go  thou  to  the  end 
of  the  road,  and  sound  my  horn  aloud,  so  that  my  friends 
may  hear." 

But  Magtelt : 

"  To  the  end  of  the  road  will  I  not  go  ;  thine  horn  will 
I  not  sound  ;    murderer's  counsel  will  I  not  follow." 

"  Ah,"  said  the  head,  "  if  thou  art  not  the  Virgin  without 
pity,  join  me  to  my  body,  and  with  the  heart  that  is  in  my 
breast  anoint  my  red  wound." 

But  Magtelt  : 

"  I  am  the  Virgin  without  pity  ;  to  thy  body  will  I  not 
join  thee,  and  with  the  heart  that  is  in  thy  breast  will  I  not 
anoint  thy  red  wound." 

"  Maid,"  said  the  head,  weeping  and  speaking  with 
great  terror,  "  maid,  quickly,  quickly,  make  on  my  body 
the  sign  of  the  cross,  and  carry  me  into  my  castle,  for  he  is 
coming." 

While  the  head  was  speaking,  suddenly  came  out  of  the 
wood  the  Prince  of  the  Stones,  and  he  came  and  seated  him- 
self on  the  body  of  the  Miserable,  and  taking  in  his  hands 
the  head  :  "  Salutation,"  he  said,  "  to  the  Ill-favoured  one  ; 
art  thou  now  content  ?  What  of  thy  triumphant  bearing, 
my  lord  the  Invincible  ?  She  whom  thou  calledst  not  came 
without  a  song  :  the  virgin  without  fear,  in  whose  hands  is 
death.  But  thou  must  sing  once  again  thy  sweet  song,  the 
song  to  call  virgins." 

"  Ah,"  said  the  head,  "  make  me  not  sing.  Lord  Prince 
of  the  Stones,  for  I  know  well  enough  that  at  the  end  there 
is  great  suffering." 

"  Sing,"  said  the  Prince  of  the  Stones,  "  sing,  coward  that 
92 


THE  SONG  OF  THE  HEAD 


Sir  Halewy7i 

hast  never  wept  to  do  evil,  and  now  weepest  at  the  time  of 
punishment  :    sing,  Miserable." 

"  Ah,"  said  the  head,  "  have  pity,  Lord." 

"  Sing,"  said  the  Prince  of  the  Stones,  "  sing,  'tis  the 
hour  of  God." 

■  "  My  lord  Prince,"  said  the  head,  "  be  not  so  hard  in  my 
evil  hour." 

"  Sing,  Miserable,"  said  the  Prince  of  the  Stones,  "  sing, 
'tis  the  hour  of  the  reckoning." 

"  Ah,"  said  the  head,  weeping,  "  I  will  sing,  since  you 
are  my  master." 

And  the  head  sang  the  faery  song. 

And  suddenly  there  spread  abroad  in  the  air  a  smell  of 
cinnamon,  frankincense,  and  sweet  marjoram. 

And  the  sixteen  virgins,  hearing  the  song,  came  down 
from  the  gallows  and  drew  near  to  the  body  of  Halewyn. 

And  Magtelt,  crossing  herself,  watched  them  pass,  but 
felt  no  fear. 

And  the  first  virgin,  who  was  the  daughter  of  the  poor 
simpleton,  Claes  the  Dog-beater,  took  the  golden  sickle,  and 
cutting  into  the  breast  of  the  Miserable  below  the  left  nipple 
drew  out  a  great  ruby,  and  put  this  on  her  wound,  where  it 
melted  into  rich  red  blood  in  her  breast. 

And  the  head  let  a  great  pitiful  cry  of  pain. 

"  So,"  said  the  Prince  of  the  Stones,  "  did  the  poor 
virgins  cry  out  when  thou  madest  them  pass  from  life  unto 
death  ;  sixteen  times  hast  thou  brought  death  about,  sixteen 
times  shalt  thou  die,  besides  the  death  thou  hast  suffered 
already.  The  cry  is  the  cry  of  the  body  when  the  soul  leaves 
it  ;  sixteen  times  hast  thou  drawn  this  cry  from  other  bodies, 
sixteen  times  shall  cry  out  thine  own  ;  sing.  Miserable,  to 
call  the  virgins  to  the  reckoning." 

And  the  head  sang  again  the  faery  song,  while  the  first  virgin 
walked  away  silently  towards  the  wood  like  a  living  person. 

And  the  second  virgin  came  to  the  body  of  the  Miserable 
and  did  to  it  as  the  first  had  done. 

93 


Flemish  Lege7ids 

And  she  also  walked  away  into  the  wood  like  a  living 
person. 

So  did  each  of  the  sixteen  virgins,  and  for  each  of  them 
a  ruby  was  changed  into  good  red  blood. 

And  sixteen  times  the  head  sang  the  faery  song,  and 
sixteen  times  gave  the  death-cry. 

And  one  by  one  all  the  virgins  went  away  into  the  depth 
of  the  wood. 

And  the  last  of  all,  who  was  Anne-Mie,  came  to  Magtelt, 
and  kissing  her  right  hand  wherein  she  had  held  the  sword  : 
"  Blessed  be  thou,"  she  said,  "  who  camest  without  fear,  and, 
delivering  us  from  the  spell,  Icadest  us  into  paradise." 

"  Ah,"  said  Magtelt,  "  must  thou  go  so  far  away,  Anne- 
Mie  ?  " 

But  Anne-Mie,  without  hearing  her,  passed  like  the  others 
into  the  depth  of  the  wood,  walking  silently  over  the  snow 
like  a  living  person. 

While  the  head  was  weeping  and  uttering  bitter  plaints, 
came  out  from  the  forest  the  child  of  nine  years  old,  whom 
the  Miserable  had  killed  first  of  all.  Still  wearing  her  shroud 
she  approached  and  fell  at  the  feet  of  the  mannikin  Prince 
of  the  Stones. 

"  Ah,"  she  said,  kissing  the  head  tenderly,  stroking  it, 
caressing  it,  and  wiping  away  its  tears,  "  poor  Miserable,  I 
will  pray  for  thee  to  the  very  good  God,  who  readily  hears 
the  prayers  of  children." 

And  the  girl  prayed  in  this  wise  : 

"  Dear  Lord,  see  how  much  he  is  suffering  !  Is  it  not 
payment  enough  that  he  should  die  sixteen  times  ?  Ah, 
Lord,  sweet  Lord,  and  you,  Madam  Mary,  who  are  so  kind, 
deign  to  hear  me  and  grant  him  forgiveness." 

But  the  mannikin,  starting  up,  pushed  the  child  away 
and  said  harshly  :  "  This  head  is  mine,  thy  prayers  avail 
nothing  ;  be  off,  little  ragamufhn,  go  back  whence  thou  came." 

And  the  child  went  away  like  the  other  maids  into  the 
depth  of  the  wood. 

94 


Sir  Halewyn 

Then  he  thrust  his  hand  into  the  breast  of  the  Miserable 
and  pulled  out  a  heart  of  stone  :  then,  in  his  rasping  voice, 
which  hissed  like  a  viper  and  scraped  like  a  thousand  pebbles 
under  the  iron  sole  of  an  armed  man,  he  said  :  "  Ambitious 
heart,  heart  of  stone,  thou  wast  in  thy  lifetime  cruel  and  a 
coward  ;  thou  couldst  not  be  content  with  such  ample  gifts 
as  God  in  His  bounty  had  given  thee,  thou  hadst  no  desire 
towards  goodness,  courage,  or  just  dealing,  but  towards  gold, 
power,  and  vain  honours  ;  thou  hadst  no  love  for  anything, 
neither  father,  mother,  brother,  nor  sister  ;  and  so,  to  get 
more  power  and  higher  jurisdiction,  thou  killedst  the  people 
of  the  land  of  Flanders,  without  shame  :  and  so  also  thou 
didst  set  thyself  to  hurt  the  weak,  sucking  thy  life  from  their 
life,  and  thy  blood  from  their  blood.  So  have  done  and  so 
shall  always  do  this  reptile  order  of  ambitious  ugly  men. 
Blessed  be  God,  who,  by  the  hands  of  this  frail  and  winsome 
maid,  has  cut  off  thine  head  from  thy  neck  and  taken  thee 
from  the  world." 

As  he  spoke  he  had  thrown  the  heart  down  into  the  snow, 
and  trampling  over  it  with  great  despite,  kicking  it  with  his 
toe  like  a  vile  thing,  and  laughing  bitterly,  he  spoke  again 
in  his  rasping  voice  : 

"  Stone  thou  art,  stone  shalt  thou  be  a  thousand  years, 
but  a  live  stone,  a  suffering  stone.  And  when  men  come 
and  carve  thee,  cleave  thee,  grind  thee  to  powder,  thou  shalt 
endure  it  all  without  being  able  to  cry  out.  Ambitious  heart, 
heart  of  stone,  suffer  and  bleed,  my  cousin. 

"  Thou  hast  starved  poor  folk,  so  shalt  thou  starve  a 
thousand  years  ;  thou  hast  brought  cold  into  their  homes, 
thou  shalt  freeze  in  like  manner.  Ambitious  heart,  heart  of 
stone,  suffer  and  bleed,  my  cousin. 

"  Thou  shalt  be  a  hearth-stone  and  burn  with  the  heat ; 
paving-stone,  and  let  men  walk  over  thee  ;  stone  of  a  church, 
and  bear  upon  thee  all  the  weight  of  the  building  ;  and  thou 
shalt  suffer  every  evil,  pain,  and  anguish.  Ambitious  heart, 
heart  of  stone,  suffer  and  endure,  my  cousin." 

95 


Flemish  Legends 

Having  said  this  the  Prince  of  the  Stones,  driving  before 
him  with  his  foot  the  Miserable's  heart,  disappeared  among 
the  trees  of  the  forest. 

Then  Magtclt  looked  at  the  head,  and  saw  that  its  eyes 
were  open  wide.  She  took  it  up  and  washed  it  with  snow, 
then,  carrying  it  with  her,  rode  away  on  Schimmel,  leaving 
near  the  body  Halewyn's  horse  and  hound,  the  one  moaning 
softly,  the  other  watching  it  with  sorrowful  wonderment. 

As  she  took  up  the  head,  the  hound  growled,  but  did  not 
dare  touch  her. 

And  while  she  rode  away,  horse  and  hound  stayed  by  the 
body,  doxvncast  and  sad,  and  covered  with  the  snow  which 
fell  without  ceasing. 

And  they  seemed  to  be  guarding  their  master. 

XXXII.  Hozu  father^  mother,  and  sister  sought  everywhere 
their  son  and  brother,  and  could  not  find  him. 

Singing  and  winding  her  horn  rides  the  noble  maid 
Magtelt. 

And  in  her  heart  is  joy,  at  the  thought  that  Anne-Mie, 
the  fifteen  virgins,  and  Toon  the  Silent  are  avenged. 

And  her  hand  holds  fast  beneath  her  keirle  the  good  sword 
and  the  head  of  Halew)^n. 

And  Schimmel  trots  quickly,  eager  to  be  back  in  his 
stable. 

While  she  was  riding  she  saw,  through  the  thick  snow 
falling,  an  old  man  coming  towards  her  on  a  black  horse. 

And  the  old  man  said  : 

"  Beautiful  maid,  riding  so  fast,  hast  seen  my  son  Halewyn  ?" 

And  Magtelt  : 

"  I  left  thy  son  Halewyn  well  placed,  taking  his  diversion 
in  the  snow  with  sixteen  maidens." 

And  the  old  man  rode  on. 

When  she  had  gone  farther  she  saw,  through  the  thick 
snow  falling,  a  young  and  rosy-cheeked  damoscl  coming 
towards  her  on  a  white  palfrey. 

96 


Sir  Halewyn 

And  the  damosel  said  : 

"  Beautiful  maid,  riding  so  fast,  hast  seen  my  brother 
Halewyn  ?  " 

But  Magtelt : 

"  Go  farther,  to  the  Gallows-field,  where  thou  shalt  see 
thy  brother  in  like  guise  to  the  sixteen  maidens." 

And  the  damosel  rode  on. 

Farther  still  on  her  way,  Magtelt  saw,  through  the  thick 
snow  falling,  a  young  man  of  haughty  and  stiff-necked 
countenance  coming  towards  her  on  a  roan  charger. 

And  the  young  man  said  : 

"  Beautiful  maid,  riding  so  fast,  hast  seen  my  brother 
Halewyn  ?  " 

But  Magtelt : 

"  Thy  brother  is  a  fair  lord,  so  fair  that  round  him  sixteen 
maidens  stand  sentinel,  unwilling  to  let  him  go." 

And  the  young  man  rode  on. 

After  travelling  on  her  way  still  farther,  she  saw,  through 
the  thick  snow  falling,  an  old  woman,  high-coloured  and  of 
robust  seeming,  despite  her  great  age,  coming  towards  her. 

And  the  old  woman  said  : 

"  Beautiful  maid,  riding  so  fast,  hast  seen  my  son  Hale- 
wyn ?  " 

But  Magtelt  : 

"  Thy  son  Siewert  Halewyn  is  dead  ;  see,  here  is  his  head 
beneath  my  keirle,  and  his  blood  running  thick  on  my  dress." 

And  the  old  woman  cried  out : 

"  If  thou  had  spoken  these  words  earlier  thou  shouldst 
not  have  ridden  so  far." 

But  Magtelt : 

"  Thou  art  fortunate,  old  woman,  in  that  I  have  left 
thee  thine  own  body  and  not  slain  thee  as  I  have  thy  son." 

And  the  old  dame  took  fright  and  made  off. 

And  night  fell. 


97 


Flemish  Lege?ids 

XXXIII.  Of  the  feast  in  the  castle  of  Heurne,  and  of  the  head 
upon  the  table. 

Schimmel  trotted  quickly,  and  soon  Magtelt  reached  her 
father's  castle  and  there  sounded  the  horn. 

Josse  van  Ryhove,  who  was  gate-keeper  that  night,  was 
filled  with  amazement  at  the  sight  of  her.  Then  he  cried 
out :  "  Thanks  be  to  God,  'tis  our  damosel  come  home 
again." 

And  all  the  household  ran  to  the  gate  crying  out  likewise 
with  great  noise  and  much  shouting  :  "  Our  damosel  is  come 
home." 

Magtelt,  going  into  the  great  hall,  went  to  Sir  Roel  and 
knelt  before  him  : 

"  My  lord  father,"  she  said,  "  here  is  the  head  of  Siewert 
Halewyn." 

Sir  Roel,  taking  the  head  in  his  hands  and  looking  at  it 
well,  was  so  overcome  with  joy  that  he  wept  for  the  first 
time  since  the  eyes  were  in  his  head. 

And  the  Silent,  rising  up,  came  to  Magtelt,  kissed  her 
right  hand  wherewith  she  had  held  the  sword,  and  wept 
likewise,  saying  :  "  Thanks  be  to  thee  who  hast  brought 
about  the  reckoning." 

The  lady  Gonde  was  like  a  woman  drunk  with  joy,  and 
could  not  find  her  tongue.  At  last,  bursting  into  sobs,  melt- 
ing into  tears,  and  embracing  Magtelt  eagerly  : 

"  Ah,  ah,"  she  cried  out,  "  kiss  me,  kiss  me,  kiss  me, 
little  one  !  She  has  slain  the  Miserable,  the  sweet  maid ; 
the  nightingale  has  vanquished  the  falcon  !  My  child  is 
come  home  again,  home  again  my  child.  Noel !  Thanks 
be  to  God  who  loves  aged  mothers  and  will  not  have  them 
robbed  of  their  children.  Noel !  See,  Magtelt  the  beautiful, 
Magtelt  the  singing-bird,  Magtelt  the  joyous,  Magtelt  the 
bright  of  heart,  Magtelt  the  glorious,  Magtelt  the  victorious, 
Magtelt  my  daughter,  my  child,  my  all,  Noel !  " 

And  Magtelt  smiled  at  her,  caressing  her  and  stroking  her 
hands  gently. 
98 


Sir  Haiewy?! 

And  the  lady  Gonde,  weeping  freely,  let  her  do,  without 
speaking. 

"  Ah,"  said  Sir  Roel,  "  I  never  saw  my  wife  before  in 
such  festival  mood."     Then  suddenly  he  cried  out : 

"  Festival,"  quoth  he,  "  this  should  be  a  day  of  festival, 
the  great  feast  of  the  house  of  Heurne  !  " 

And  he  threw  open  the  door  to  call  his  pages,  grooms, 
men-at-arms,  and  all  the  household. 

But  they  all  held  back,  not  daring  to  enter. 

"  Ho  !  "  cried  he,  in  his  great  joyous  voice,  "  where  are 
cooks  and  kitchen-maids  ?  Where  are  cauldrons,  pots,  and 
frying-pans  ?  Where  are  barrels,  kegs,  flagons  and  bottles, 
tankards,  mugs,  and  goblets  ?  Where  is  clauwaert  simple 
and  double  ?  Where  is  old  wine  and  new  wine  ?  Where 
are  hams  and  sausages,  whales'  tongues,  and  loins  of  beef, 
meat  of  the  air,  meat  of  the  waters,  and  meat  of  the  fields  ? 
Bring  in  everything  there  is  and  set  it  on  the  table,  for  this 
must  be  a  feast-day  in  this  house,  feast  for  an  emperor,  a 
king,  a  prince  ;  for  " — and  so  saying  he  held  up  the  Miser- 
able's  head  by  the  hair — "  our  beloved  maid  has  slain  with 
her  own  hand  the  lord  Siewert  Halewyn." 

Hearing  this  they  all  cried  out  with  a  roar  like  thunder  : 

"  Praise  be  to  God  !     Noel  to  our  damosel !  " 

"  Go  then,"  said  Sir  Roel,  "  and  do  as  I  have  bid." 

And  when  the  great  feast  was  served  the  head  was  put 
in  the  middle  of  the  table. 

On  the  morrow  there  was  let  cry  war  in  the  seigneury  of 
Heurne.  And  Sir  Roel  went  with  a  goodly  force  of  men  to 
attack  by  arms  the  castle  of  the  Miserable,  whereof  all  the 
relatives,  friends,  and  followers  were  either  hanged  or  slain. 

And  My  Lord  the  Count  gave  to  the  family  of  Heurne, 
the  goods,  titles  and  territories  of  Halewyn,  excepting  only 
the  ugly  shield,  and  theirs  they  remain  to  this  day. 


99 


SMETSE  SMEE 


SMETSE  SMEE 

/.  Of  Smetse,  his  belly,  and  his  forge. 

Smetse  Smee  lived  in  the  good  town  of  Ghent,  on  the  Quai 

aux  Oignons,  beside  the  fair  River  Lys. 

He  was  well  skilled  in  his  trade,  rich  in  bodily  fat,  and 
with  so  jolly  a  countenance  that  the  most  melancholy  of  men 
were  cheered  and  took  heart  for  no  more  than  the  sight  of 
him  in  his  smithy,  trotting  about  on  his  short  legs,  head  up 
and  belly  forward,  seeing  to  everything. 

When  work  was  in  full  swing  in  his  shop,  Smetse,  listening 
to  the  busy  sounds  round  the  fire,  would  say,  with  his  hands 
clasped  across  his  stomach,  quietly  and  happily  :  "  By  Arte- 
velde  !  what  are  drum.s,  cymbals,  fifes,  viols,  and  bagpipes 
worth  ?  For  heavenly  music  give  me  my  sledges  beating, 
my  anvils  ringing,  my  bellows  roaring,  my  good  workmen 
singing  and  hammering." 

Then,  speaking  to  them  all :  "  Courage,"  he  would  say, 
"  my  children  !  Who  works  well  from  daybreak  drinks  the 
better  for  it  at  vespers.  Whose  is  that  feeble  arm  down 
there,  tapping  with  his  hammer  so  gently  ?  Does  he  think 
he  is  cracking  eggs,  the  faint-heart  ?  To  those  bars,  Dolf, 
and  plunge  them  in  the  water.  To  that  breastplate.  Pier, 
beat  it  out  for  us  fine  and  true  :  iron  well  beaten  is  proof 
against  bullets.  To  that  plough-share,  Flipke,  and  good 
work  to  it,  too  :  from  the  plough  comes  the  world's  bread. 
To  the  door.  Toon,  here  comes  the  raw-boned  nag  of  Don 
Sancio  d'Avila,  the  knight  with  the  sour  countenance,  brought 
hither  by  his  raw-boned  groom,  who  is  for  having  him  shod, 
no  doubt :  let  him  pay  double  for  his  Spanish  haughtiness 
and  his  harshness  to  poor  folk  !  " 

So  went  Smetse  about  his  smithy,  singing  mostly,  and 
whistling  when  he  was  not  singing.  And  for  the  rest  getting 
much  honest  gain,  profiting  in  health,  and,  at  vespers,  drink- 
ing hruinbier  with  a  will  in  the  inn  of  Pensaert. 

103 


A: ;/;  y]\)  •': ■ .  Fle?msh  Lege?tds 

11.  How  SUmhroek  the  Red  put  out  the  fire  in  Smetse's  forge. 

By  and  by  there  came  to  the  Quai  aux  Oignons  a  certain 
Adriaen  Shmbroek,  who  set  up,  with  the  Hcence  of  the  guild, 
another  smithy.  This  Shmbroek  was  an  ugly,  wizened,  lean 
and  puny  personage,  white-faced,  underhung  in  the  jaw  like 
a  fox,  and  nicknamed  the  Red  on  account  of  the  colour  of 
his  hair. 

Skilled  in  intrigue,  expert  in  sharp-practice,  master  of 
arts  in  cant  and  hypocrisy,  and  making  himself  out  to  be  the 
finest  of  smiths,  he  had  interested  in  his  business  all  the  rich 
and  gentle  folk  of  the  town,  who  from  fear  or  otherwise  held 
to  the  Spaniards  and  wished  ill  to  those  of  the  reformed 
faith.  They  were  before,  for  the  most  part,  customers  of 
Smetse,  but  Shmbroek  had  put  them  against  him,  saying  : 
"  This  Smetse  is  a  knave  to  the  bottom  of  his  heart,  he  was 
a  marauder  in  his  young  days,  sailing  the  seas  with  the  men 
of  Zeeland  in  despite  of  Spain,  on  the  side  of  this  religion 
which  they  call  reformed.  He  still  has  many  friends  and 
relatives  in  Walcheren,  more  particularly  at  Middelburg, 
Arnemuiden,  Camp-Veere,  and  Flushing,  all  obstinate  Pro- 
testants, and  speaking  of  the  Pope  of  Rome  and  my  Lords 
the  Archdukes  without  veneration. 

"  And  for  the  rest,"  added  he,  "  this  fellow  Smetse  is 
altogether  an  atheist,  reading  the  bible  of  Antwerp  in  despite 
of  the  decrees,  and  going  to  church  only  because  he  is  afraid, 
and  not  at  all  because  he  will." 

By  such  slanders  as  these  Shmbroek  robbed  Smetse  of 
all  his  customers. 

And  soon  the  fire  was  out  in  the  forge  of  the  good  smith, 
and  soon,  too,  the  savings  were  eaten  up,  and  Dame  Misery 
came  to  the  dwelling. 

///.  Wherein  Slimbroek  is  seen  in  the  river  prettily  tricked 
out. 

Brought  to  this  pass  Smetse,  nevertheless,  would  not  let 
himself  take  to  despair  ;  but  he  was  always  sad  and  heavy 
104 


Smetse  S?nee 

of  licart  when,  sitting  in  his  cold  smithy  and  looking  at  all 
his  good  tools  lying  idle  on  the  ground,  he  heard  the  fair 
sound  of  hammers  and  anvils  coming  from  Slimbroek's  shop. 

But  what  angered  him  most  was  that  whenever  he  passed 
before  Slimbroek's  dwelling  the  traitor  carrot-head  would 
appear  suddenly  on  the  threshold,  and,  saluting  him  graciously 
and  giving  him  fair  compliments,  would  make  a  hundred 
flattering  speeches,  accompanied  by  as  many  hypocritical 
salutations,  and  all  for  the  sake  of  poking  fun  at  him  and  to 
laugh  unkindly  at  his  misery. 

These  ugly  encounters  and  grimaces  went  on  a  long  while, 
and  Smetse  came  to  the  end  of  his  patience  :  "  Ah,"  said 
he,  "  it  angers  me  to  be  in  such  poor  case  ;  although  I  must 
submit,  for  such  is  the  holy  will  of  God.  But  it  irks  me  too 
bitterly  to  see  this  wicked  knave,  who  by  his  trickeries  has 
taken  away  all  my  customers,  so  amusing  himself  with  my 
misery." 

Meanwhile  Slimbroek  spared  him  not  at  all,  and  each  day 
became  sharper  in  speech,  for  the  more  wrong  he  did  to  the 
good  smith  the  more  hate  he  bore  him. 

And  Smetse  swore  to  have  his  revenge  on  him,  in  such 
a  way  as  to  spoil  thenceforward  his  taste  for  mockery. 

It  so  happened  that  one  Sunday  when  he  was  standing 
on  the  Quai  des  Bateliers,  looking  at  the  river  with  a  crowd 
of  watermen,  townsfolk,  boys,  and  scholars  who  were  idle 
for  the  holy  day,  suddenly  there  came  out  of  a  pothouse, 
wherein  he  had  been  swallowing  many  pints  of  ale,  Slim- 
broek, bolder  than  usual  on  account  of  the  drink.  Seeing 
Smetse  he  came  and  placed  himself  close  to  him,  and  with 
much  gesticulation,  loud  bursts  of  talk  and  laughter,  said  to 
him  in  an  insolent  tone  :  "  Good  day,  Smetse,  good  day,  my 
worthy  friend.  How  is  thy  fine  face  ?  It  seems  to  lose  its 
fat,  which  was  of  good  quality,  Smetse.  'Tis  a  great  pity. 
What  is  the  reason  for  it  ?  Art  thou  angry  at  the  loss  of 
thy  customers,  Smetse  ?  Thou  must  drink  well  to  bring 
back  the  joy  to  thy  stomach,  Smetse.     We  never  see  thee 

105 


Flemish  Legends 

now  at  vespers  in  the  inn  of  Pensaert ;  why,  Smetse  ?  Hast 
no  pennies  to  get  drink  ?  I  have  plenty  for  thee,  if  thou 
wilt,  Smetse."  And  he  shook  his  money-bag  to  make  it 
ring. 

"  Thank  thee  kindly,"  said  Smetse,  "  thou  art  too 
generous.  Master  Slimbroek,  'tis  my  turn  to  stand  thee  drink 
now." 

"  Ah,"  cried  Slimbroek,  feigning  pity  and  compassion, 
"  why  wilt  thou  stand  drink  to  me  ?  The  world  knows  thou 
art  not  rich,  Smetse." 

"  Rich  enough,"  answered  the  smith,  "  to  stand  thee  the 
best  draught  thou  ever  had." 

"  Hark  to  him,"  said  Slimbroek  to  the  crowd  of  watermen 
and  townsfolk,  "  hark  to  him.  Smetse  will  stand  us  drink  ! 
The  world  is  coming  to  an  end.  'Tis  the  year  of  golden 
rags.  Smetse  will  stand  us  drink  !  Ah  !  I  shall  taste  with 
great  pleasure  the  brumbicr  that  Smetse  will  stand  us.  I 
am  thirsty  as  an  African  desert,  thirsty  as  Sunday,  thirsty 
as  a  devil  half-boiled  in  the  cauldrons  of  Lucifer." 

"  Drink  then,  Slimbroek,"  said  Smetse,  and  threw  him 
into  the  river. 

Seeing  this  the  people  who  were  on  the  quay  applauded 
heartily,  and  all  ran  to  the  edge  to  have  a  good  look  at 
Slimbroek,  who,  falling  into  the  water  head  first,  had  struck 
and  broken  through  the  belly  of  a  dog  a  long  while  dead, 
which  was  floating  down  on  the  stream  as  such  carrion  will. 
And  he  was  tricked  out  round  the  neck  with  this  dog  in  a 
most  marvellous  manner,  nor  could  he  get  rid  of  it,  being 
busy  with  his  arms  at  keeping  himself  afloat,  and  his  face 
was  smeared  all  over  with  offensive  matter. 

Notwithstanding  that  he  was  half-blinded,  he  dared  not 
come  out  on  to  the  quay  where  Smetse  was,  but  swam  off 
towards  the  other  bank,  decked  with  his  carrion  and  blowing 
like  a  hundred  devils. 

"  Well,"  said  Smetse,  "  dost  find  the  bruinbicr  to  thy 
liking  ;  is  it  not  the  best  in  all  the  land  of  Flanders  ?  But 
io6 


Smetse  Smee 

my  good  sir,  take  off  thy  bonnet  to  drink ;  such  headgear 
is  not  worn  for  river  parties." 

When  Slimbroek  was  in  midstream,  over  against  the 
bridge,  Smetse  went  up  on  to  this  bridge  with  the  other 
onlookers,  and  SHmbroek,  in  the  midst  of  his  puffing  and 
snorting,  cried  out  to  Smetse :  "  I'll  have  thee  hanged, 
accursed  reformer  !  " 

"  Ah,"  said  the  good  smith,  "  you  are  mistaken,  my 
friend ;  'tis  not  I  who  am  the  reformer,  but  you,  who  devise 
these  new  bonnets.  Where  got  you  this  one  ?  I  have  never 
seen  such  a  one,  neither  so  beautiful,  nor  so  richly  ornamented 
with  tufts  and  hangings.  Is  the  fashion  coming  to  Ghent 
by  and  by  ?  " 

Slimbroek  answered  nothing,  and  struggled  to  get  rid  of 
the  dead  dog,  but  in  vain,  and  having  paused  in  his  swimming 
for  this  purpose,  went  down  to  the  bottom,  and  came  up 
again  more  furious  than  ever,  blowing  harder,  and  trying 
all  the  while  to  tear  off  the  body." 

"  Leave  your  hat  on,  my  master,"  said  Smetse,  "  do  not 
so  put  yourself  out  in  order  to  salute  me,  I  am  not  worth  the 
trouble.     Leave  it  on." 

At  last  Slimbroek  climbed  out  of  the  water.  On  the  quay 
he  shook  off  the  dog  hastily  and  made  away  as  fast  as  he 
could  to  his  dwelling.  But  he  was  followed  by  a  crowd  of 
young  watermen  and  boys,  who  ran  after  him  hooting, 
whistling,  covering  him  with  mud  and  other  filth.  And 
they  continued  to  do  the  same  to  his  house-front  after  he 
had  gone  in. 

IV .  Of  the  two  branches. 

In  this  wise  Smetse  had  his  revenge  on  Slimbroek,  who 
thereafter  dared  not  look  him  in  the  face,  and  hid  when  he 
passed. 

But  the  good  smith,  nevertheless,  had  no  more  pleasure 
in  anything  than  before,  for  with  every  passing  day  he  became 
more  and  more  needy,  having  already,  with  his  wife,  used 

107 


Flemish  Legends 

up  what  help  came  to  them  from  the  guild,  and  also  a  small 
sum  of  silver  from  Middelburg  in  Walcheren. 

Ashamed  to  get  his  living  by  begging  and  knavery,  and 
knowing  how  to  bear  with  his  lot  no  longer,  he  resolved  to 
kill  himself. 

So  one  night  he  left  his  house,  and  went  out  to  the  moats 
of  the  town,  which  are  bordered  by  fine  trees,  forked  and 
spreading  down  to  the  ground.  There  he  fastened  a  stone 
to  his  neck,  commended  his  soul  to  God,  and,  stepping  back 
three  paces  to  get  a  better  start,  ran  and  jumped. 

But  while  he  was  in  the  very  act  he  was  caught  suddenly 
by  two  branches,  which,  falling  upon  his  shoulders,  gripped 
him  like  man's  hands  and  held  him  fast  where  he  was.  These 
branches  were  neither  cold  nor  hard,  as  wood  naturally  is, 
but  supple  and  warm.  And  he  heard  at  the  same  instant 
a  strange  and  scoffing  voice  saying  :  "  Where  goest  thou, 
Smetse  ?  " 

But  he  could  not  answer  by  reason  of  his  great  astonish- 
ment. 

And  although  there  was  no  wind  the  trunks  and  branches 
of  the  tree  moved  and  swung  about  like  serpents  uncoiling, 
while  all  around  there  crackled  above  ten  hundred  thousand 
sparks. 

And  Smetse  grew  more  afraid,  and  a  hot  breath  passed 
across  his  face,  and  the  voice,  speaking  again,  but  nearer, 
or  so  it  seemed,  repeated  :   "  Where  goest  thou,  Smetse  ?  " 

But  he  could  not  speak  for  fear,  and  because  his  throttle 
was  dry  and  his  teeth  chattering. 

"  Why,"  said  the  voice,  "  dost  not  dare  answer  him  who 
wishes  thee  naught  but  well  ?     Where  goest  thou,  Smetse  ?  " 

Hearing  so  pleasant  and  friendly  a  speech,  the  good  smith 
took  heart  and  answered  with  great  humility  :  "  Lord  whom 
I  cannot  see,  I  was  going  to  kill  myself,  for  life  is  no  longer 
bearable." 

"  Smetse  is  mad,"  said  the  voice. 

"  So  I  am,  if  you  will,  Lord,"  answered  the  smith  ;  "  never- 
io8 


SMETSE  CAUGHT  BY  THE  TWO  BRANCHES 


Smetse  Smee 

theless  when  my  smithy  is  lost  to  me  by  the  cunning  of  a 
wicked  neighbour,  and  I  have  no  way  to  live  but  by  begging 
and  knavery,  'twould  be  greater  madness  in  me  to  live  than 
to  die." 

"  Smetse,"  said  the  voice,  "  is  mad  to  wish  himself  dead, 
for  he  shall  have  again,  if  he  will,  his  fair  smithy,  his  good 
red  fire,  his  good  workmen,  and  as  many  golden  royals  in 
his  coffers  as  he  sees  sparks  in  this  tree." 

"  I,"  exclaimed  the  smith  in  great  delight,  "  shall  never 
have  such  fine  things  as  that !  They  are  not  for  such  miser- 
ables  as  I." 

"  Smetse,"  said  the  voice,  "  all  things  are  possible  to  my 
master." 

"  Ah,"  said  the  smith,  "  you  come  from  the  devil.  Lord  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  answered  the  voice,  "  and  I  come  to  thee  on  his 
account  to  propose  a  bargain  :  For  seven  years  thou  shalt 
be  rich,  thou  shalt  have  thy  smithy  the  finest  in  the  town  of 
Ghent ;  thou  shalt  win  gold  enough  to  pave  the  Quai  aux 
Oignons  ;  thou  shalt  have  in  thy  cellars  enough  beer  and 
wine  to  wet  all  the  dry  throttles  in  Flanders  ;  thou  shalt  eat 
the  finest  meats  and  the  most  delicate  game  ;  thou  shalt 
have  hams  in  plenty,  sausages  in  abundance,  mince-pies  in 
heaps  ;  every  one  shall  respect  thee,  admire  thee,  sing  thy 
praises  ;  Slimbroek  at  the  sight  of  it  shall  be  filled  with 
rage  ;  and  for  all  these  great  benefits  thou  hast  only  to  give 
us  thy  soul  at  the  end  of  seven  years." 

"  My  soul  ?  "  said  Smetse,  "  'tis  the  only  thing  I  have  ; 
would  you  not.  My  Lord  Devil,  make  me  rich  at  a  less 
price  ?  " 

"  Wilt  thou  or  wilt  thou  not,  smith  ?  "  said  the  voice. 

"  Ah,"  answered  Smetse,  "  you  offer  me  things  that  are 
very  desirable,  even.  My  Lord  Devil  (if  I  may  say  it  without 
offence),  more  than  I  wish ;  for  if  I  might  have  only  my 
forge  and  enough  customers  to  keep  the  fire  alight  I  should 
be  happier  than  My  Lord  Albert  or  Madam  Isabella." 

"  Take  or  leave  it,  smith,"  said  the  voice. 

109 


Fle7nish  Legends 

"  Lord  Devil,"  answered  Smetse,  "  I  beg  you  not  to 
become  angry  with  me,  but  to  deign  to  consider  that  if  you 
give  me  but  my  forge,  and  not  all  this  gold,  wine,  and  meats, 
you  might  perhaps  be  content  to  let  my  soul  burn  for  a 
thousand  years,  which  time  is  not  at  all  to  be  compared  with 
the  great  length  of  all  eternity,  but  would  seem  long  enough 
to  whomever  must  pass  it  in  the  fire." 

"  Thy  forge  for  thee,  thy  soul  for  us  ;  take  or  leave  it, 
smith,"  said  the  voice. 

"  Ah,"  lamented  Smetse,  "  'tis  dear  bought,  and  no  offence 
to  you.  Lord  Devil." 

"  Well  then,  smith,"  said  the  voice,  "  to  riches  thou 
preferest  beggary  ?  Do  as  thou  wilt.  Ah,  thou  wilt  have 
great  joy  when,  walking  with  thy  melancholy  countenance 
about  the  streets  of  Ghent,  thou  art  fled  by  every  one  and 
dogs  snap  at  thy  heels  ;  when  thy  wife  dies  of  hunger,  and 
thou  chantest  mca  culpa  in  vain  ;  then  when,  alone  in  the 
world,  thou  beatest  on  thy  shrunken  belly  the  drum  for  a 
feast,  and  the  little  girls  dancing  to  such  music  give  thee  a 
slap  in  the  face  for  payment  ;  then,  at  last,  when  thou  dost 
hide  thyself  in  thy  house  so  that  thy  rags  shall  not  be  seen 
in  the  town,  and  there,  scabby,  chatter-tooth,  vermin-fodder, 
thou  diest  alone  on  thy  dung-hill  like  a  leper,  and  art  put 
into  the  earth,  and  Shmbroek  comes  to  make  merry  at  thy 
downfall." 

"  Ah,"  said  Smetse,  "  he  would  do  it,  the  knave." 

". Do_^not  await  this  vile  end,"  said  the  voice,  "it  were 
better  to  die  now :  leap  into  the  water,  Smetse ;  leap, 
Smee." 

"  Alas,"  lamented  he,  "  if  I  give  myself  to  you,  I  shall 
burn  for  all  eternity." 

"  Thou  wilt  not  burn,"  said  the  voice,  "  but  serve  us  for 
food,  good  smith." 

"  I  ?  "  cried  Smetse,  much  frightened  at  these  words, 
"  do  you  think  to  eat  me  down  there  ?  I  am  not  good  for 
eating,  I  must  tell  you.  There  is  no  meat  more  sour,  tough, 
no 


Smetse  Smee 

common,  and  vulgar  than  mine  is.  It  has  been  at  one  time 
and  another  diseased  with  plague,  itch,  and  other  vile 
maladies.  Ah,  I  should  make  you  a  shabby  feast,  you  and 
the  others.  My  Lord  Devil,  who  have  in  hell  so  many  souls 
which  are  noble,  succulent,  tasty,  and  well-fed.  But  mine 
is  not  at  all  good,  I  declare." 

"  Thou  art  wrong,  smith,"  said  the  voice.  "  Souls  of 
wicked  emperors,  kings,  princes,  popes,  famous  captains  of 
arms,  conquerors,  slayers  of  men,  and  other  brigands,  are 
always  as  hard  as  an  eagle's  beak  ;  for  so  their  omnipotence 
fashions  them  ;  we  break  our  teeth  off  bit  by  bit  in  eating 
them.  Others,  having  been  eaten  up  beforehand  by  ambition 
and  cruelty,  which  are  like  ravenous  worms,  give  us  hardly 
a  crumb  to  pick.  Souls  of  girls  who,  without  want  or  hunger, 
sell  for  money  what  nature  bids  them  give  for  nothing,  are 
so  rotten,  putrid,  and  evil-smelling  that  the  hungriest  of 
devils  will  not  touch  them.  Souls  of  vain  men  are  bladders, 
and  within  there  is  nothing  but  wind  ;  'tis  poor  food.  Souls 
of  hypocrites,  canterS;  liars,  are  like  beautiful  apples  without, 
but  beneath  the  skin  are  full  of  bile,  gall,  sour  wine,  and 
frightful  poison  ;  none  of  us  will  have  any  ado  with  them. 
Souls  of  envious  men  are  as  toads,  who  from  spleen  at  being 
so  ugly,  run  yellow  spittle  on  whatever  is  clean  and  shining, 
from  mouth,  feet,  and  all  their  bodies.  Souls  of  gluttons 
are  naught  but  cow-dung.  Souls  of  good  drinkers  are  always 
tasty,  and  above  all  when  they  have  about  them  the  heavenly 
smell  of  good  wine  and  good  bruinbier.  But  there  is  no  soul 
so  tasty,  delectable,  succulent,  or  of  such  fine  flavour  as  that 
of  a  good  woman,  a  good  workman,  or  a  good  smith  such  as 
thou.  For,  working  without  intermission,  they  have  no  time 
for  sin  to  touch  and  stain  them,  unless  it  be  once  or  twice 
only,  and  for  this  reason  we  catch  them  whenever  we  can  ;  but 
'tis  a  rare  dish,  kept  for  the  royal  table  of  My  Lord  Lucifer." 

"  Ah,"  said  Smetse,  "  you  have  made  up  your  mind  to 
eat  me,  I  see  well  enough  ;  nevertheless  'twould  not  cost  you 
much  to  give  me  back  my  forge  for  nothing." 

Ill 


Flemish  Lege?tcis 

"  'Tis  no  great  discomfort,"  said  the  voice,  "  to  be  so 
eaten,  for  My  Lord  and  King  has  a  mouth  larger  than  had 
the  fish  whereby  Jonah  the  Jew  was  swallowed  in  olden  time  ; 
thou  wilt  go  down  like  an  oyster  into  his  stomach,  without 
having  been  wounded  by  his  teeth  in  any  wise  ;  there,  if  it 
displease  thee  to  stay,  thou  must  dance  with  feet  and  hands 
as  hard  as  thou  canst,  and  My  Lord  will  at  once  spit  thee 
out,  for  he  will  not  find  it  possible  to  stand  for  long  such  a 
drubbing.  Falling  at  his  feet  thou  wilt  show  him  a  joyous 
face,  a  steady  look  in  his  eyes,  and  a  good  countenance,  and 
the  same  to  Madam  Astarte,  who,  without  a  doubt,  will 
take  thee  for  her  pet,  as  she  has  done  already  to  several ; 
thereafter  thou  wilt  have  a  joyous  time,  serving  My  Lady 
merrily  and  brushing  his  hair  for  My  Lord  ;  as  for  the  rest 
of  us,  we  shall  be  right  glad  to  have  you  with  us,  for,  among 
all  these  familiar  vile  and  ugly  faces  of  conquerors,  plunderers, 
thieves,  and  assassins,  'twill  do  us  good  to  see  the  honest 
countenance  of  a  merry  smith,  as  thou  art." 

"  My  Lord  Devil,"  said  Smetse,  "  I  do  not  merit  such 
honour.  I  can  well  believe,  from  what  you  tell  me,  that  'tis 
pleasant  enough  down  there  with  you.  But  I  should  be  ill 
at  ease,  I  must  tell  you,  being  naturally  uncouth  in  the 
company  of  strangers  ;  and  so  I  should  bring  no  joy  with 
me,  and  should  not  be  able  to  sing  ;  and  therefore  you  would 
get  but  poor  amusement  from  me,  I  know  in  advance.  Ah, 
give  me  back  rather  my  good  forge  and  my  old  customers, 
and  hold  me  quit ;  this  would  be  the  act  of  a  royal  devil 
and  would  sit  well  upon  you." 

Suddenly  the  voice  spoke  with  anger  :  "  Smith,  wilt  thou 
pay  us  in  such  ape's  coin  ?  Life  is  no  longer  of  benefit  to 
thee,  death  is  abhorrent,  and  thou  wouldst  have  from  us 
without  payment  the  seven  full,  rich  and  joyous  )'ears  which 
I  offer  thee.  Accept  or  refuse,  thy  forge  for  thee,  thy  soul 
for  us,  under  the  conditions  I  have  told  thee." 

"  Alas,"  said  Smetse,  "  then  I  will  have  it  so,  since  it 
must  be,  Lord  Devil !  " 

112 


Smetse  Smee 

"  Well  then,"  said  the  voice,  "  set  thy  mark  in  blood  to 
this  deed." 

And  a  black  parchment,  with  a  crow's  quill,  fell  from  the 
tree  at  the  smith's  feet.  He  read  on  the  parchment,  in 
letters  of  fire,  the  pact  of  seven  years,  opened  his  arm  with 
his  knife,  and  signed  with  the  crow's  quill.  And  while  he 
was  still  holding  the  parchment  and  the  quill,  he  felt  them 
suddenly  snatched  from  his  hands  with  violence,  but  he  saw 
nothing,  and  only  heard  a  noise  as  of  a  man  running  in 
slipper-shoes,  and  the  voice  saying  as  it  went  into  the  distance  : 
"  Thou  hast  the  seven  years,  Smetse."  And  the  tree  ceased 
its  swaying,  and  the  sparks  in  the  branches  went  out. 

V .  Of  the  flaming  hall,  of  the  forge  relit,  and  of  the  terrible  great 
buffet  which  the  man  with  the  lantern  gave  to  Smetse'' s  wife. 

Smetse,  greatly  amazed,  rubbed  his  eyes,  thinking  he  was 
dreaming.  Suddenly  shaking  himself  :  "  This  devil,"  said 
he,  "  was  he  not  making  fun  of  me  after  all  ?  Have  I  verily 
gotten  my  good  forge  back  again  ?     I  will  go  and  see." 

Having  said  this  he  started  running  in  haste,  and  from 
far  away  saw  a  great  light  reddening  the  sky  above  the 
houses,  and  it  seemed  to  him  that  the  fire  sending  up  this 
light  was  on  the  Quai  aux  Oignons  ;  and  he  said  to  himself  : 
"  Could  that  be  my  forge  ?  "     And  he  ran  the  faster. 

Coming  to  the  quay  he  found  it  lit  up  as  if  by  a  sun,  from 
the  paving-stones  up  to  the  tops  of  the  trees  which  stood 
alongside,  and  he  said  to  himself :   "  It  is  my  forge." 

Then  he  was  seized  and  shaken  with  joy,  his  legs  failed 
him,  and  his  breath  grew  short ;  but  he  kept  running  as 
hard  as  he  could,  and  coming  at  last  to  his  house  he  saw  his 
smithy  wide  open  as  in  the  daytime,  and  at  the  back  of  it 
a  great  bright  fire. 

Unable  to  contain  himself  at  this  sight  he  fell  to  dancing, 
leaping,  and  bursting  out  into  laughter,  crying  :  "I  have 
my  forge,  my  own  forge  !  Ghent  is  mine  !  "  Then  he  went 
in.     Inspecting,  examining,  touching  everything,  he  saw  at 

H  113 


Flemish  Lege?tcls 

the  sides,  laid  out  in  good  order,  iron  of  all  kinds  :  armour- 
iron,  iron  bars,  plough-iron.  "  By  Artevelde  !  "  he  said, 
"  the  devil  was  not  lying  !  "  And  he  took  up  a  bar,  and 
having  made  it  red  with  the  fire,  which  was  done  quickly, 
started  beating  it,  making  the  hammer  ring  on  the  anvil  like 
thunder,  and  crying  :  "  Ha,  so  I  have  my  good  tools  back 
again,  and  hear  once  more  this  good  music  which  has  so 
long  been  silent  !  "  And  while  he  was  wiping  away  a  tear 
of  joy,  which  gave  an  unaccustomed  wetness  to  his  eye,  he 
saw  on  a  chest  near  by  a  good  pewter  pot  standing,  and 
beside  it  a  fine  mug,  and  he  filled  up  the  mug  several  times 
and  drank  it  down  with  relish  :  "  Ah,"  he  said,  "  the  good 
bruinbier,  the  drink  which  makes  men  !  I  had  lost  the  taste 
for  it !  How  good  it  is  !  "  Then  he  went  back  to  hammering 
the  iron  bar. 

While  he  was  making  all  this  noise,  he  heard  himself 
called  by  name,  and  looking  to  see  whence  the  voice  came 
he  perceived  his  wife  in  the  half-open  door  which  led  from 
the  kitchen,  thrusting  through  her  head  and  looking  at  him 
with  a  startled  face. 

"  Smetse,"  she  said,  "  is  it  thou,  my  man  ?  " 

"  Yes,  wife,"  said  he. 

"  Smetse,"  she  said,  "  come  close  to  me,  I  dare  not  set 
foot  in  this  forge." 

"  And  why  not,  wife  ?  "  said  he. 

"  Alas,"  she  said,  clinging  to  him  and  gazing  into  the 
forge,  "  wert  thou  alone  there,  my  man  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  he. 

"  Ah,"  she  said,  "  Smetse,  while  you  were  away  there 
were  strange  happenings  !  " 

"  What  happenings,  wife  ?  " 

"  As  I  was  lying  in  bed,"  she  said,  "  suddenly  the  house 
trembled,  and  a  flaming  ball  passed  across  our  room,  went 
out  through  the  door,  without  hurting  anything,  down  the 
stairs,  and  into  the  forge,  where,  bursting,  as  I  suppose,  it 
made  a  noise  like  a  hundred  thunder-claps.  Suddenly  all 
114 


Smeise  Smee 

the  windows  and  doors  were  thrown  open  with  a  great  clatter 
Getting  out  of  bed,  I  saw  the  quay  all  lit  up,  as  it  is  now. 
Then,  thinking  that  our  house  was  on  fire,  I  came  down  in 
haste,  went  into  the  forge,  saw  the  fire  lit,  and  heard  the 
bellows  working  noisily.  In  each  corner  the  iron  of  different 
kinds  arranged  itself  in  place  according  to  the  work  for  which 
it  was  used ;  but  I  could  see  no  hands  moving  it,  though 
there  must  have  been  some  for  sure.  I  began  to  cry  out  in 
a  fright,  when  suddenly  I  felt,  as  it  were,  a  glove  of  hot 
leather  pressed  against  my  mouth  and  holding  it  shut,  while 
a  voice  said  :  '  Do  not  cry  out,  make  no  sound,  if  thou  wilt 
not  have  thy  husband  burnt  alive  for  the  crime  of  sorcery.' 
Nevertheless  he  who  thus  ordered  me  to  keep  silent  made 
himself  more  noise  than  I  should  ever  have  dared,  but  by 
a  miracle  none  of  our  neighbours  heard  it.  As  for  me,  my 
man,  I  had  no  more  heart  to  make  a  sound,  and  I  fled  back 
hither  into  the  kitchen,  where  I  was  praying  to  God  when 
I  heard  thy  voice,  and  dared  to  open  the  door  a  crack.  Oh, 
my  man,  since  thou  art  here,  explain,  if  thou  can,  all  this 
tumult." 

"  Wife,"  answered  Smetse,  "  we  must  leave  that  to  those 
more  learned  than  ourselves.  Think  only  to  obey  the  order 
of  the  voice  :  keep  thy  mouth  shut,  speak  to  no  one  of  what 
thou  hast  seen  to-night,  and  go  back  to  thy  bed,  for  it  is 
still  pitch-dark." 

"  I  go,"  she  said,  "  but  wilt  thou  not  come  also,  my 
man  ?  " 

"  I  cannot  leave  the  forge,"  said  he. 

While  he  was  speaking  thus  there  came  towards  them, 
one  after  another,  a  baker  carrying  new-baked  bread,  a  grocer 
carrying  cheeses,  and  a  butcher  carrying  hams. 

Smetse  knew  well  enough  that  they  were  devils,  from 
their  white  faces,  hollow  eyes,  scorched  hair,  twisted  fingers, 
and  also  from  the  fact  that  they  walked  with  so  little  sound. 

His  wife,  amazed  to  see  them  coming  into  her  house  with 
all  this  food,  would  have  stopped  them,  but  they  slipped 

115 


Flemish  Legends 

between  her  hands  like  eels,  and  went  into  the  kitchen, 
walking  straight  and  silently. 

There,  without  a  word  spoken,  the  baker  arranged  his 
loaves  in  the  pan,  while  the  butcher  and  grocer  put  their 
cheeses  and  hams  in  the  cool  of  the  cellar.  And  they  finished 
their  work,  taking  no  notice  of  the  smith's  wife,  who  kept 
crying  :  "  'Tis  not  here  you  must  bring  these  things  ;  you 
have  made  a  mistake,  I  tell  you,  my  good  men.  Go  else- 
whither." 

But  they,  notwithstanding  her  voice,  arranged  the  loaves, 
meat,  and  cheeses  quietly. 

This  made  the  good  woman  more  than  ever  put  out,  and 
she  grew  angry  :  "  I  tell  you/'  she  exclaimed,  "  you  have 
made  a  mistake  ;  do  you  not  hear  me  ?  You  have  made  a 
mistake,  'tis  not  here  you  should  be  ;  I  say  here,  with  us, 
in  this  place,  in  the  house  of  Smetse  the  beggar,  who  has  not 
a  farthing  to  his  name,  who  will  never  pay  you.  Alas,  they 
will  not  listen  to  me  !  " 

And  crying  out  at  the  top  of  her  voice  :  "  Masters,  you 
are  at  Smetse's,  do  you  not  understand  ?  Smetse  the  beggar  ! 
Do  I  not  say  it  loud  enough  ?  Jesus,  Lord,  God  !  Smetse 
the  needy  !  Smetse  the  ragged  !  Smetse  the  starved  !  Smetse 
who  is  rich  in  nothing  but  lice  !  Who  will  pay  you  nothing  :  do 
you  hear  me  ?     Who  will  pay  you  nothing,  nothing,  nothing  !  " 

"  Wife,"  said  the  smith,  "  you  are  losing  your  head,  my 
dear.     'Tis  I  who  sent  for  these  good  men." 

"  Thou  !  "  said  his  wife,  "  thou  !  but  thou  art  mad,  my 
man ;  yes,  he  is  mad,  my  masters,  altogether  mad.  Ah,  'tis 
thou  who  sent  for  them  !  'Tis  thou  who  sendest  for  loaves, 
hams,  and  cheeses  in  this  profusion,  like  a  rich  man,  when 
thou  knowest  well  enough  we  cannot  pay  for  them,  and  so 
showest  thy  bad  faith  !  " 

"  Wife,"  answered  Smetse  quietly,  "  we  are  rich,  and  will 
pay  for  everything." 

"  We  rich  ?  "  she  said,  "  ah,  poor  beggarman.  Do  I  not 
know  what  is  in  our  chest  ?  Hast  ever  put  thy  nose  in  to 
u6 


Smetse  Smee 

see,  any  more  than  in  the  bread-pan  ?  Art  thou  become  the 
housewife  ?     Alas,  my  man  is  mad,  God  help  us  !  " 

Meanwhile  the  three  men  came  back  into  the  smithy. 

Seeing  them  again,  the  wife  ran  to  them  :  "  Master  trades- 
men," said  she,  "  you  heard  me  well  enough,  for  you  are 
not  deaf,  I  believe ;  we  have  nothing,  we  can  pay  you 
nothing  ;   take  back  your  provisions." 

But  without  looking  at  her,  nor  seeming  to  hear  her,  the 
three  went  off,  walking  stiff  and  silently. 

No  sooner  had  they  gone  out  than  a  brewer's  cart  drew 
up  at  the  door,  and  the  brewer's  men  came  into  the  smithy 
carrying  between  them  a  great  barrel  full  of  bruinbier. 

"  Smetse,"  said  his  wife,  "  this  is  too  much  !  Master 
brewers,  this  is  not  for  us  ;  we  do  not  like  beer  at  all,  we 
drink  water.  Take  this  barrel  to  one  of  our  neighbours,  it 
is  no  concern  of  ours,  I  tell  you." 

None  the  less  the  brewer's  men  took  down  the  barrel  of 
bruinbier  into  the  cellar,  came  up  again,  and  went  out  to 
fetch  others,  and  placed  them  alongside  the  first  to  the 
number  of  twenty.  The  good  wife,  trying  to  stop  them, 
was  pushed  aside,  while  Smetse  could  not  speak  for  laughing, 
and  could  only  draw  her  to  his  side,  and  so  prevent  her  from 
hurting  herself  on  the  barrels,  which  the  men  were  carrying 
from  street  to  cellar  with  marvellous  speed  and  dispatch. 

"  Oh,"  she  wailed,  "  let  me  be !  This  is  too  much, 
Smetse  !  Alas  !  Now  we  are  worse  than  beggars,  we  are 
debtors,  Smetse :  I  shall  go  and  throw  myself  into  the  river, 
my  man.  To  run  up  debts  to  fill  a  famished  stomach,  that 
is  shame  enough ;  but  to  do  so  from  simple  gluttony,  that 
is  unbearable  deceit.  Canst  thou  not  be  content  with  bread 
and  water  got  honestly  with  thy  two  hands  ?  Art  thou  then 
become  such  a  delicate  feeder  that  thou  must  have  cakes, 
fine  cheeses,  and  full  barrels  ?  Smetse,  Smetse,  that  is  not 
like  a  good  man  of  Ghent,  but  rather  like  a  Spanish  rogue. 
Oh,  I  shall  go  and  drown  myself,  my  man  !  " 

"  Wife,"   said   Smetse,   troubled   at   seeing  her   in   such 

117 


Flemish  Legends 

distress,  "  do  not  weep.     'Tis  all  ours,  my  dear,  duly,  and 
by  right." 

"  Ah,"  she  said  moaning,  "  'tis  an  ill  thing  to  lose  in  this 
wise  in  your  old  age  that  honesty  which  was  your  only 
crown." 

While  the  smith  was  endeavouring,  but  in  vain,  to  console 
her,  there  entered  a  vintner  followed  by  three-and-thirty 
porters,  each  carrying  a  basket  full  of  bottles  containing 
precious  wines  of  great  rarity,  as  was  shown  by  the  shape 
of  those  said  bottles. 

When  the  good  wife  saw  them  she  was  overcome  with 
despair,  and  her  courage  failed  her  :  "  Come  in,"  she  said 
in  a  piteous  voice,  "  come  in,  master  vintners  ;  the  cellar 
is  below.  You  have  there  a  goodly  number  of  bottles,  six 
score  for  certain.  That  is  none  too  much  for  us  who  are 
wealthy,  wealthy  of  misery,  vermin,  and  lice  ;  come  in,  my 
masters,  that  is  the  door  of  the  cellar.  Put  them  all  there, 
and  more  besides  if  you  will." 

And  giving  Smetse  a  push  :  "  Thou  art  happy,  no  doubt," 
said  she,  "  for  'tis  a  fine  sight  for  a  drunkard,  such  as  thou 
art,  to  see  all  this  good  wine  coming  into  the  house  without 
payment.     Ah,  he  laughs  !  " 

"  Yes,  wife,"  said  Smetse,  "  I  laugh  with  content,  for  the 
wines  are  ours,  ours  the  meats,  ours  the  loaves  and  cheeses. 
Let  us  make  merry  over  it  together."  And  he  tried  to 
embrace  her  :  but  she,  shaking  herself  free  :  "  Oh,  oh,"  she 
said,  "  he  runs  up  debts,  he  tells  lies,  he  laughs  at  his  shame  : 
he  has  all  the  vices,  none  is  wanting." 

"  Wife,"  said  Smetse,  "  all  this  is  ours,  I  tell  thee  again. 
To  this  amount  am  I  paid  in  advance  for  certain  large  orders 
which  have  been  graciously  given  me." 

"  Art  thou  not  lying  ?  "  said  she,  growing  a  little  calmer. 
"  No,"  said  he. 
"  All  this  is  ours  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  he  said,  "  by  the  word  of  honour  of  a  citizen  of 
Ghent." 
ii8 


Smetse  Smee 

"  Ah,  my  man,  then  we  are  henceforward  out  of  our 
trouble." 

"  Yes,  wife,"  said  he. 

"  'Tis  a  miracle  from  God." 

"  Alas,"  said  he. 

"  But  these  men  come  hither  by  night,  against  the  usual 
custom,  tell  me  the  reason  of  that." 

"  He  who  knows  the  reason  for  everything,"  said  Smetse, 
"  is  an  evil  prier.     Such  a  one  am  not  I." 

"  But,"  said  she,  "  they  speak  never  a  word." 

"  They  do  not  like  to  talk,"  said  Smetse,  "  that  is  clear. 
Or  it  may  be  that  their  master  chose  them  dumb,  so  that 
they  should  not  waste  time  chattering  with  housewives." 

"  Yes,  that  may  be,"  she  said,  while  the  thirty-first  porter 
was  going  past,  "  but  'tis  very  strange,  I  cannot  hear  their 
footfalls,  my  man  ?  " 

"  They  have  for  certain,"  said  Smetse,  "  soles  to  suit  their 
work." 

"  But,"  she  said,  "  their  faces  are  so  pale,  sad,  and 
motionless,  that  they  seem  like  faces  of  the  dead." 

"  Night-birds  have  never  a  good  complexion,"  said 
Smetse. 

"  But,"  said  his  wife,  "  I  have  never  seen  these  men 
among  the  guilds  of  Ghent." 

"  Thou  dost  not  know  them  all,"  said  Smetse. 

"  That  may  be,  my  man." 

In  this  manner  the  smith  and  his  wife  held  converse 
together,  the  one  very  curious  and  disturbed,  the  other 
confused  and  ashamed  at  his  lies. 

Suddenly,  as  the  three-and-thirtieth  porter  of  the  master- 
vintner  was  going  out  of  the  door,  there  rushed  in  in  great 
haste  a  man  of  middling  height,  dressed  in  a  short  black 
smock,  pale-haired,  large-headed,  wan-faced,  stepping  deli- 
cately, quick  as  the  wind,  stiff  as  a  poker  ;  for  the  rest, 
smiling  continually,  and  carrying  a  lantern. 

The  man  came  up  to  Smetse  hurriedly,  without  speaking 

119 


Flemish  Lege?jds 

bade  him  follow,  and  seized  him  by  the  arm.  When  Smetse 
hung  back  he  made  him  a  quick  sign  to  have  no  fear,  and 
led  him  into  the  garden,  whither  they  were  followed  by  the 
good  wife.  There  he  took  a  spade,  gave  his  lantern  to 
Smetse  to  hold,  dug  in  the  earth  rapidly  and  opened  a  great 
hole,  pulled  out  of  the  hole  a  leathern  bag,  opened  it  quickly, 
and  with  a  smile  showed  Smetse  and  his  wife  that  it  was 
full  of  gold  coin.  The  good  wife  cried  out  at  the  sight  of 
the  gold,  whereupon  he  gave  her  a  terrible  great  buffet  in 
the  face,  smiled  again,  saluted,  turned  on  his  heel  and  went 
off  with  his  lantern. 

The  good  wife,  knocked  down  by  the  force  of  the  blow, 
and  quite  dazed,  dared  not  cry  out  again,  and  only  moaned 
softly  :  "  Smetse,  Smetse,"  said  she,  "  where  art  thou,  my 
man  ?   my  cheek  hurts  me  sorely." 

Smetse  went  to  her  and  picked  her  up,  saying  :  "  Wife, 
let  this  buffet  be  a  lesson  to  thee  henceforward  to  control 
thy  tongue  better ;  thou  hast  disturbed  with  thy  crying  all 
the  good  men  who  have  come  here  this  night  for  my  good  ; 
this  last  was  less  patient  than  the  rest  and  punished  thee, 
not  without  good  reason." 

"  Ah,"  she  said,  "  I  did  ill  not  to  obey  thee  ;  what  must 
I  do  now,  my  man  ?  " 

"  Help  me,"  said  Smetse,  "  to  carry  the  bag  into  the 
house." 

"  That  I  will,"  she  said. 

Having  taken  in  the  bag,  not  without  some  trouble,  they 
emptied  it  into  a  coffer. 

"  Ah,"  she  said,  seeing  the  gold  run  out  of  the  bag  and 
spread  itself  this  way  and  that,  "  'tis  a  fine  sight.  But  who 
was  this  man  who  showed  thee  this  sack  with  such  kindness, 
and  who  gave  me  this  terrible  great  blow  ?  " 

"  A  friend  of  mine,"  said  Smetse,  "  a  great  discoverer  of 
hidden  treasure." 

"  What  is  his  name  ?  "  said  she. 

"  That,"  said  Smetse,  "  I  am  not  allowed  to  tell  thee." 

120 


Smetse  Smee 

"  But,  my  man.  .  .  ." 

"  Ah,  wife,  wife,"  said  Smetse,  "  thou  wilt  know  too  much. 
Thy  questioning  will  be  thy  death,  my  dear." 
"  Alas,"  said  she. 

VI.  Wherein  the  zuife  of  Smetse  shows  the  great  length  of  her 
tongue. 

When  the  day  was  up,  Smetse  and  his  wife  sat  down 
together  to  the  good  loaves,  the  fat  ham,  the  fine  cheese, 
the  double  bruinbier,  and  the  good  wines,  and  so  eased  their 
stomachs,  hurt  a  little  by  being  such  a  long  while  hungry. 

Suddenly  there  came  in  all  the  old  workmen,  and  they 
said  : 

"  Baes  Smetse,  thou  didst  send  for  us  ;  here  we  are,  right 
glad  to  see  thy  fire  lit  up  again,  and  to  work  for  thee  who 
wast  always  so  good  a  master." 

"  By  Artevelde  !  "  said  Smetse,  "  here  they  all  are  :  Pier, 
Dolf,  Flipke,  Toon,  Hendrik,  and  the  rest.  Good  day,  my 
lads  !  "  and  he  gripped  them  by  the  hand,  "  we  must  drink." 

While  they  were  drinking,  his  wife  said  suddenly  with  a 
toss  of  the  head  :  "  But  no  one  sent  for  you  all !  Is  that 
not  so,  Smetse  ?  " 

"  Wife,  wife,"  said  the  smith,  "  wilt  thou  never  learn  to 
hold  thy  tongue  ?  " 

"  But,"  said  she,  "  I  am  speaking  the  truth,  my  man." 

"  Thou  art  speaking  foolishly,"  said  he,  "  of  things  whereof 
thou  knowest  nothing.  Stay  in  thy  kitchen  and  do  not  come 
meddling  in  my  forge." 

"  Baesine^'^  said  Flipke,  "  without  wishing  to  belie  you, 
I  must  tell  you  that  a  message  was  sent  to  us  in  the  name 
of  the  baes.  For  a  man  came  in  the  middle  of  the  night 
knocking  on  the  doors  of  our  houses,  shouting  out  that  we 
should  all  of  us  come  hither  without  fail  this  morning  for 
work  of  great  urgency,  and  that  for  this  we  should  each  be 
given  a  royal  as  forfeit  to  our  several  masters.  And  we 
came,  all  of  us,  not  wishing  to  leave  our  baes  in  the  lurch." 

121 


Flemish  Lege?ic/s 

"  'Tis  good  of  you,"  said  Smetse,  "  ye  shall  have  the 
promised  royal.  But  come  with  me,  I  will  apportion  to  each 
of  you  the  usual  task."  This  he  did,  and  once  again  the 
good  music  of  sledges  beating,  anvils  ringing,  bellows  blowing, 
and  workmen  singing  was  heard  in  the  forge  of  the  good  smith. 

Meanwhile  Smetse  went  to  his  wife  and  said  to  her  with 
great  heat :  "  Dost  think  it  a  fine  thing  to  gainsay  me  before 
these  good  men  !  Chattering  magpie,  wilt  never  learn  to 
hold  thy  tongue  ?  Hast  not  already  to-night  been  admo- 
nished sharply  enough  ?     Must  thou  have  more  telling  ?  " 

"  But,  Smetse,"  said  his  vv^ife,  "  I  did  not  know  that  you 
had  sent  for  them." 

"  That  is  no  reason,"  he  said,  "  why  thou  shouldst  give 
me  the  lie  before  all  my  workmen  ;  canst  thou  not  leave 
thy  speaking  until  I  have  done,  or  else  hold  thy  tongue 
altogether,  which  would  be  better  still." 

"  Smetse,"  said  his  wife,  "  I  never  saw  you  so  angry 
before.  Do  not  beat  me,  my  man,  I  will  be  henceforward 
as  dumb  as  this  cheese." 

"  So  you  should,"  said  Smetse. 

"  But,  my  man,"  said  she,  "  canst  not  explain  to  me 
somewhat  of  all  these  happenings  ?  " 

"  Sometime,"  he  said,  and  went  back  into  his  smithy. 

VII.  Of  Smetse  the  Rich. 

That  day  there  came  to  Smetse  many  persons,  both 
notable  and  common,  nobles,  priests,  burgesses,  and  peasants, 
to  give  him  orders  for  much  work,  and  so  it  went  on  again 
on  other  days,  and  all  through  the  year. 

Soon  the  smithy  became  too  small,  and  Smetse  had  to 
enlarge  it  by  reason  of  the  ever-growing  numbers  of  his  work- 
men. And  the  work  which  they  did  was  so  beautiful  and 
so  marvellously  well  done  that  the  fame  of  it  spread  abroad 
to  foreign  and  distant  countries,  and  people  came  to  see  and 
admire  it  from  Holland,  Zeeland,  Spain^  Germany,  England, 
and  even  from  the  land  of  the  Turk. 

122 


Smetse  Smee 

But  Smetse,  thinking  of  the  seven  years,  was  not  happy 
at  all. 

Soon  his  coffers  were  full  of  fine  crusats,  angelots,  rose 
nobles,  and  golden  jewels.  But  he  found  no  pleasure  in 
looking  at  all  this  wealth,  for  he  thought  them  poor  payment 
for  giving  his  soul  to  the  devil  for  all  the  length  of  eternity. 

Red  Slimbroek  lost  all  his  customers,  who  came  back  one 
by  one  to  Smetse.  Ragged  and  miserable  he  used  to  come 
every  day  and  lounge  on  the  quay,  watching  from  there  the 
bright  fire  glowing  in  the  forge  of  the  good  smith,  and,  so 
standing,  he  seemed  dazed  and  stupid,  like  an  owl  watching 
a  doit.  Smetse,  knowing  that  he  was  needy,  sent  him  several 
customers  to  bring  him  some  means  of  sustenance,  and  also 
more  than  once  a  gift  of  money.  But  although  he  thus 
repaid  evil  with  good  he  was  no  longer  happy,  thinking  of 
the  seven  years. 

Smetse's  wife,  finding  him  so  wealthy,  bought  for  dinner 
each  Sunday  legs  of  fat  mutton,  geese,  capons,  turkeys,  and 
other  good  meats  ;  invited  to  her  table  his  relatives,  friends, 
and  workmen  ;  and  then  there  would  be  a  great  feast,  well 
washed  down  with  double  bruinbier.  But  Smetse,  though 
he  ate  and  drank  like  an  emperor,  was  not  at  all  happy, 
thinking  of  the  seven  years.  And  the  steam  from  the  roast 
meats  spread  abroad  on  the  Quai  aux  Oignons,  so  fragrant 
and  succulent,  and  so  sweetening  the  air,  that  all  the  dogs 
wandering  in  the  streets  of  the  town  would  stop  before  the 
house  and  sniff  at  the  smell,  and  there  on  their  haunches, 
nose  in  air,  would  wait  for  crumbs  :  and  the  beggars,  of 
whom  there  were  great  numbers,  came  thither  likewise  and 
tried  to  drive  away  the  dogs.  Thereupon  ensued  furious 
battles,  in  which  many  were  badly  bitten.  Seeing  this, 
Smetse's  wife  and  other  women  would  come  every  Sunday 
to  the  door  with  baskets  of  alms,  and  there,  before  the  meal 
began,  would  give  the  beggars  good  bread,  slices  of  meat, 
and  two  farthings  to  get  themselves  drink,  and  all  this  with 
soft  words  and  fair  speaking  :    then  they  charged  them  to 

123 


Flemish  Lege?ids 

go  away  from  the  quay,  which  they  did  in  an  orderly  manner. 
But  the  dogs  stayed  behind,  and  at  the  end  of  the  feast  there 
was  given  to  them  hkewise  food  of  some  sort.  And  then 
they  would  go  off  also,  taking  each  his  bone  or  other  booty. 

Smetse  and  his  wife  together  took  both  dogs  and  men 
into  their  affection  ;  to  the  beggars  he  gave  food  and  shelter  ; 
and  so  also  to  all  the  dogs  of  Ghent  that  were  lame,  infirm, 
or  sickly,  until  at  length  his  house  came  to  be  called  the 
Dogs'  Hospital  and  the  Home  of  the  Poor. 

Nevertheless  he  was  not  at  all  happy,  thinking  of  the 
seven  years. 

Worn  and  troubled  with  these  thoughts,  Smetse  stopped 
singing  and  lost  his  fat,  shrivelled  visibly,  became  melancholy 
and  moody,  and  in  his  smithy  said  never  a  word,  except  to 
give  a  necessary  order. 

And  he  was  no  longer  called  Smetse  the  Merry,  but  Smetse 
the  Rich. 

And  he  counted  the  days. 

VIII.  How  there  came  a  ragged  wayfarer  to  Smetse'^s  door,  and 
with  him,,  on  an  ass,  a  sweet  wife  and  a  little  child. 

On  the  two  hundred  and  forty-fifth  day  of  the  seventh 
year,  when  the  plum-trees  were  in  bloom,  Smetse,  dumb  as 
a  stone,  was  taking  a  little  noonday  rest.  He  sat  on  a  wooden 
bench  opposite  his  door,  and  with  melancholy  mien  looked 
at  the  trees  planted  all  along  the  quay,  and  the  small  birds 
playing  among  the  branches  or  squabbling  and  pecking  one 
another  over  some  morsel  of  food,  and  blinked  in  the  bright 
sun  which  made  these  birds  so  merry,  and  heard  at  his  back 
the  goodly  sounds  of  his  forge,  his  wife  preparing  dinner,  and 
his  workmen  hurrying  at  their  work  so  that  they  might  be 
off  to  their  meal,  for  it  was  nearing  the  time  ;  and  he  said 
to  himself  that  in  hell  he  would  see  neither  the  sun,  nor  the 
birds,  nor  the  trees  with  their  load  of  green  leaves,  nor  hear 
any  more  the  sounds  of  his  forge,  nor  the  smiths  hurrying, 
nor  his  good  wife  preparing  dinner. 
124 


Smetse  Smee 

By  and  by  the  workmen  came  out,  and  Smetse  was  left 
sitting  alone  on  his  bench,  pondering  in  his  mind  whether 
there  were  not  some  way  whereby  he  might  outwit  the  devil. 

Suddenly  there  drew  up  at  his  door  a  man  of  piteous 
appearance,  with  brown  hair  and  beard,  dressed  like  a  ragged 
townsman,  and  carrying  a  great'  staff  in  his  hand.  He  was 
walking  beside  an  ass,  and  leading  it  along  by  a  rein.  On 
the  ass  rode  a  sweet  and  beautiful  young  woman  with  a  noble 
mien,  suckling  a  little  child,  who  was  quite  naked,  and  of 
such  gentle  and  winsome  countenance  that  the  sight  of  it 
warmed  Smetse's  heart. 

The  ass  stopped  at  the  door  of  the  smithy  and  began  to 
bray  loudly. 

"  Master  smith,"  said  the  man,  "  our  ass  has  cast  one 
of  his  shoes  on  his  way  hither,  wilt  thou  be  pleased  to  give 
orders  that  another  should  be  given  him  ?  " 

"  I  will  do  it  myself,"  said  Smetse,  "  for  I  am  alone  here." 

"  I  should  tell  thee,"  said  the  man,  "  that  we  are  beggars, 
without  money." 

"  Have  no  care  for  that,"  said  Smetse,  "  I  am  rich  enough 
to  be  able  to  shoe  in  silver  without  payment  all  the  asses  in 
Flanders." 

Hearing  this  the  woman  alighted  from  the  ass  and  asked 
Smetse  if  she  might  sit  down  on  the  bench. 

"  Yes,"  said  he. 

And  while  he  was  fastening  up  the  beast,  paring  his  hoof 
and  fitting  the  shoe,  he  said  to  the  man  :  "  Whence  come 
you,  with  this  woman  and  this  ass  ?  " 

"  We  come,"  said  the  man,  "  from  a  distant  country,  and 
have  still  far  to  go." 

"  And  this  child  whom  I  see  naked,"  said  Smetse,  "  does 
he  not  oftentimes  suffer  from  the  cold  ?  " 

"  Nay,"  said  the  man,  "  for  he  is  all  warmth  and  all  life." 

"  Well,  well,"  said  Smetse,  "  you  do  not  cry  down  your 
own  children,  master.  But  what  is  your  meat  and  drink 
while  you  are  travelling  in  this  manner  ?  " 

125 


Fle7nish  Legends 

"  Water  from  streams,"  said  the  man,  "  and  such  bread 
as  is  given  us." 

"  Ah,"  said  Smetsc,  "  that  is  not  much,  I  see,  for  the 
ass's  panniers  are  hght.     You  must  often  go  hungry." 

"  Yes,"  said  the  man. 

"  This,"  said  Smetse,  "  is  displeasing  to  me,  and  it  is 
most  unwholesome  for  a  nursing  mother  to  suffer  hunger, 
for  so  the  milk  turns  sour,  and  the  child  grows  in  sickly  wise." 
And  he  called  out  to  his  wife  :  "  Mother,  bring  hither  as 
many  loaves  and  hams  as  will  fill  the  panniers  of  this  beast. 
And  do  not  forget  some  double  bruinbicr,  'tis  heavenly  comfort 
for  poor  travellers.     And  a  good  peck  of  oats  for  the  ass." 

When  the  panniers  were  filled  and  the  beast  shod,  the 
man  said  to  Smetse  :  "  Smith,  it  is  in  my  mind  to  give  thee 
some  recompense  for  thy  great  goodness,  for  such  as  thou 
seest  me  I  have  great  power." 

"  Yes,"  said  Smetse,  with  a  smile,  "  I  can  see  that  well 
enough." 

"  I  am,"  said  the  man,  "  Joseph,  nominal  husband  of  the 
very  blessed  Virgin  Mary,  who  is  sitting  on  this  bench,  and 
this  child  that  she  has  in  her  arms  is  Jesus,  thy  Saviour." 

Smetse,  dumbfounded  at  these  words,  looked  at  the  way- 
farers with  great  astonishment,  and  saw  about  the  man's 
head  a  nimbus  of  fire,  a  crown  of  stars  about  the  woman's, 
and,  about  the  child's,  beautiful  rays  more  brilliant  than  the 
sun,  springing  from  his  head  and  girdling  him  round  with 
light. 

Thereupon  he  fell  at  their  feet  and  said  :  "  My  Lord 
Jesus,  Madam  the  Virgin,  and  my  Master  St.  Joseph,  grant 
me  pardon  for  my  lack  of  understanding." 

To  this  St.  Joseph  replied  :  "  Thou  art  an  honest  man, 
Smetse,  and  righteous  as  well.  For  this  reason  I  give  thee 
leave  to  make  three  requests,  the  greatest  thou  canst  think 
of,  and  my  Lord  Jesus  will  listen  to  them  favourably." 

At  these  words  Smetse  was  filled  with  joy,  for  it  seemed 
to  him  that  in  this  way  he  might  perhaps  escape  the  devil ; 
126 


IN  SMETSE'S  GARDEN 


Smetse  Smee 

but  at  the  same  time  he  did  not  dare  to  avow  that  he  had 
traded  his  soul  away.  So  he  remained  in  silence  for  a  few 
moments,  thinking  of  what  things  he  could  ask,  then  sud- 
denly said,  with  great  respect  :  "  My  Lord  Jesus,  Madam 
St.  Mary,  and  you.  Master  St.  Joseph,  will  you  please  to 
enter  my  dwelling  ?  There  I  can  tell  you  what  boons  I 
ask." 

"  We  will,"  said  St.  Joseph. 

"  Mother,"  said  Smetse  to  his  wife,  "  come  hither  and 
look  to  the  ass  of  these  noble  lords." 

And  Smetse  went  in  before  them,  sweeping  the  threshold 
so  that  there  should  be  no  dust  to  touch  the  soles  of  their  feet. 

And  he  took  them  into  his  garden,  where  there  was  a 
fine  plum-tree  in  full  blossom.  "  My  Lord,  Madam,  and 
Sir,"  said  Smetse,  "  will  it  please  you  to  order  that  whosoever 
shall  climb  up  into  this  plum-tree  shall  not  be  able  to  come 
down  again  unless  I  so  desire  ?  " 

"  It  will,"  said  St.  Joseph. 

Thence  he  led  the  way  into  the  kitchen,  where  there  stood 
a  great  and  precious  arm-chair,  well  padded  in  the  seat,  and 
of  enormous  weight. 

"  My  Lord,  Madam,  and  Sir,"  said  Smetse,  "  will  it 
please  you  that  whosoever  shall  sit  in  this  chair  shall  not  be 
able  to  rise  unless  I  so  desire  ?  " 

"  It  will,"  said  St.  Joseph. 

Then  Smetse  fetched  a  sack,  and,  showing  it  to  them, 
said  :  "  My  Lord,  Madam,  and  Sir,  will  it  please  you  that, 
whatsoever  his  stature,  man  or  devil  shall  be  able  to  get  into 
this  sack,  but  not  out  again,  unless  I  so  desire  ?  " 

"  It  will,"  said  St.  Joseph. 

"  My  Lord,  Madam,  and  Sir,"  said  Smetse,  "  thanks  be 
unto  you.  Now  that  I  have  made  my  three  requests  I  have 
naught  else  to  ask  of  your  goodness,  save  only  your  blessing." 

"  We  will  give  it,"  said  St.  Joseph. 

And  he  blessed  Smetse,  and  thereafter  the  holy  family 
went  upon  their  way. 

127 


Flemish  Lege?ids 

IX.  What  Smetse  did  in  order  to  keep  his  secret. 

The  good  wife  had  heard  nothing  of  what  was  said  to  her 
man  by  the  celestial  wayfarers,  and  she  was  amazed  to  see 
the  behaviour  and  hear  the  speech  of  the  good  smith.  But 
she  was  more  so  than  ever  when,  on  the  departure  of  the 
all-powerful  visitors,  Smetse  began  to  give  forth  bursts  of 
laughter,  to  rub  his  hands,  take  hold  of  her,  thump  her  on 
the  chest,  twist  her  this  way  and  that,  and  say  in  a  triumphant 
tone  :  "  It  may  be,  after  all,  that  I  shall  not  burn,  that  I 
shall  not  roast,  that  I  shall  not  be  eaten  !  Art  not  glad  of 
it?" 

"  Alas/'  she  said,  "  I  cannot  understand  what  you  are 
talking  about,  my  man  ;   have  you  gone  mad  ?  " 

"  Wife,"  said  Smetse,  "  do  not  show  me  the  whites  of 
thine  eyes  in  this  pitiful  manner,  'tis  no  time  for  that.  Canst 
not  see  how  light  my  heart  has  grown  ?  'Tis  because  I  have 
got  rid  of  a  burden  on  my  shoulders  heavier  than  the  belfry 
itself  ;  I  say  this  belfry,  our  own,  with  the  dragon  taken 
from  that  of  Bruges.  And  I  am  not  to  be  eaten.  By 
Artevelde  !  my  legs  bestir  themselves  of  their  own  accord 
at  the  thought  of  it.  I  dance  !  Wilt  not  do  hkewise  ?  Fie, 
moody  one,  brewing  melancholy  when  her  man  is  so  happy  ! 
Kiss  me,  wife,  kiss  me,  mother,  for  my  proficiat ;  and  so 
thou  shouldst,  for  instead  of  despair  I  have  found  a  good 
and  steadfast  hope.  They  think  to  roast  me  with  sauces 
and  feast  off  my  flesh  to  their  fill.  I  will  have  the  laugh  of 
them.     Dance,   wife,   dance  !  " 

"  Ah,  Smetse,"  said  she,  "  you  should  take  a  purge,  my 
man  ;   they  say  'tis  good  for  madness." 

"  Thou,"  he  said,  tapping  her  on  the  shoulder  with  great 
affection  and  tenderness,  "  talkest  boldly." 

"  Hark,"  said  she,  "  to  the  good  doctor  preaching  reason 
to  me  !  But  wert  thou  mad  or  not,  Smetse,  doffing  thy 
bonnet  as  thou  did  to  those  beggars  who  came  hither  sowing 
their  lice  ;  giving  to  me,  thy  wife,  their  ass  to  hold  ;  filling 
their  hampers  with  our  best  bread,  briiinbier^  and  ham  ; 
128 


Smetse  Smee 

falling  on  thy  knees  before  them  to  have  their  blessing,  and 
treating  them  like  archdukes,  with  a  torrent  of  My  Lords, 
Sirs,  and  Madams." 

At  these  words  Smetse  saw  well  enough  that  the  lordly 
wayfarers  had  not  wished  to  discover  themselves  to  any  but 
he.  "  Wife,"  he  said,  "  thou  must  not  question  me  further, 
for  I  can  tell  thee  nothing  of  this  mystic  happening,  which 
it  is  not  given  thee  to  understand." 

"  Alas,"  said  she,  "  then  'tis  worse  than  madness,  'tis 
mystery.  Thou  dost  ill  to  hide  thyself  from  me  in  this  wise, 
Smetse,  for  I  have  always  lived  in  thy  house,  faithful  to  thee 
only,  cherishing  thine  honour,  husbanding  thy  wealth,  neither 
lending  nor  borrowing,  holding  my  tongue  in  the  company 
of  other  wives,  considering  thy  secrets  as  mine  own  and 
never  breathing  a  word  of  them  to  any  one." 

"  I  know  it,"  said  Smetse,  "  thou  hast  been  a  good  and 
true  wife." 

"  Then  why,"  said  she,  "  knowing  this,  hast  thou  not 
more  faith  in  me  ?  Ah,  my  man,  it  hurts  me  ;  tell  me  the 
secret,  I  shall  know  how  to  keep  it,  I  promise  thee." 

"  Wife,"  said  he,  "  knowing  nothing  thou  wilt  be  able  to 
hold  thy  tongue  the  more  easily." 

"  Smetse,"  said  she,  "  wilt  thou  verily  tell  me  nothing  ?  " 

"  I  cannot,"  said  he. 

"  Alas,"  said  she. 

By  and  by  the  workmen  came  back,  and  Smetse  gave 
each  of  them  a  good  royal  to  get  themselves  drink. 

Whereat  they  were  all  so  merry,  and  felt  themselves -so 
rich,  that  for  three  days  none  of  them  put  his  nose  into  the 
smithy,  save  one  old  man  who  was  too  withered,  stiff,  short 
of  breath,  and  unsteady  on  his  legs  to  go  swimming  with  the 
others  in  the  Lys,  and  afterwards  drying  in  the  sun  among 
the  tall  grasses,  dancing  in  the  meadows  to  the  music  of 
rebecks,  bagpipes,  and  cymbals,  and  at  night  in  the  tavern 
emptying  pots  and  draining  glasses. 

I  129 


Flejnish  Lege? ids 

X.  Of  the  Bloody  Councillor. 

At  length  the  day  came  on  which  the  good  smith  was 
due  to  hand  over  his  soul  to  the  devil,  for  the  seventh  year 
had  run  out,  and  plums  were  once  again  ripe. 

At  nightfall,  when  certain  workmen  were  busy  on  a 
grating  for  the  Franciscan  brothers  which  was  to  be  done 
that  night,  and  had  stayed  behind  with  Smetse  for  that 
purpose,  there  came  into  the  forge  an  evil-looking  fellow, 
with  greasy  white  hair,  a  rope  round  his  neck,  his  jaw  dropped, 
his  tongue  hanging  out,  and  dressed  in  an  ill-found  habit 
like  a  nobleman's  servant  fallen  on  evil  days. 

This  fellow,  without  being  heard  by  any  one  there  as  he 
walked  across  the  floor,  came  quickly  up  to  Smetse  and  put 
his  hand  on  his  shoulder.  "  Smetse,"  he  said,  "  hast  packed 
thy  bundle  ?  " 

Hearing  this  the  smith  swung  round.  "  Packed,"  he 
said,  "  and  how  does  mv  packing  concern  thee,  master  bald- 
pate  ?  " 

"  Smetse,"  replied  the  fellow  in  a  harsh  voice,  "  hast 
forgotten  thy  restored  fortunes,  and  the  good  times  thou 
hast  enjoyed,  and  the  black  paper  ?  " 

"  No,  no,"  said  Smetse,  dofhng  his  bonnet  with  great 
humility,  "  I  have  not  forgotten  ;  pardon  me,  my  lord,  I 
could  not  call  to  mind  your  gracious  countenance.  Will  you 
be  pleased  to  come  into  my  kitchen,  and  try  a  slice  of  fat 
ham,  taste  a  pot  of  good  bruinbier,  and  sip  a  bottle  of  wine  ? 
We  have  time  enough  for  that,  for  the  seven  years  are  not 
yet  struck,  but  want,  if  I  am  not  mistaken,  still  two  hours." 

"  That  is  true,"  said  the  devil ;  "  then  let  us  go  into  thy 
kitchen." 

So  they  entered  in  and  sat  down  to  the  table. 

The  good  wife  was  greatly  astonished  to  see  them  come 
in.  Smetse  said  to  her  :  "  Bring  us  wine,  bruinbier,  ham, 
sausages,  bread,  cakes,  and  cheeses,  and  the  best  of  each 
that  we  have  in  the  house." 

"  But,  Smetse,"  said  she,  "  you  waste  the  good  things 

no 


Smetse  Smee 

which  God  has  given  you.  'Tis  well  to  come  to  the  help  of 
poor  folk,  but  not  to  do  more  for  one  than  another.  Beggar- 
men  are  beggar-men,  all  are  equal !  " 

"  Beggar-men  !  "  exclaimed  the  devil,  "  that  I  am  not 
and  never  was.  Death  to  the  beggar-men  !  To  the  gallows 
with  the  beggar-men  !  " 

"  My  lord,"  said  Smetse,  "  I  beg  you  not  to  be  angry 
with  my  good  wife,  who  knows  you  not  at  all.  Wife,  consider 
and  look  at  our  guest  with  great  attention,  but  greater 
respect,  and  afterwards  thou  mayest  tell  thy  gossips  that 
thou  hast  seen  my  Lord  Jacob  Hessels,  the  greatest  reaper 
of  heretics  that  ever  was. 

"  Ah,  wife,  he  mowed  them  down  grandly,  and  had  so 
many  of  them  hanged,  burnt,  and  tortured  in  divers  ways, 
that  he  could  drown  himself  a  hundred  times  in  the  blood 
of  his  dead.     Go,  wife,  go  and  fetch  him  meat  and  drink." 

While  he  was  munching,  Smetse  said  :  "  Ah,  my  lord,  I 
soon  recognized  you  by  your  particular  way  of  saying  :  '  To 
the  gallows  !  '  and  also  by  this  rope  which  finished  off  your 
life  in  so  evil  a  manner.  For  Our  Lord  said  :  '  Whoso  liveth 
by  the  rope  shall  perish  by  the  rope.'  My  Lord  Ryhove  was 
harsh  and  treacherous  toward  you,  for  besides  taking  your 
life  he  took  also  your  beard,  which  was  a  fine  one. 

"  Ah,  that  was  an  evil  trick  to  play  on  so  good  a  coun- 
cillor as  you  were  in  those  days  when  you  slept  so  quietly 
and  peaceably  in  the  Bloody  Council — I  should  say  the  Council 
of  Civil  Disorders,  speaking  respectfully — and  woke  up  only 
to  say  :   '  To  the  gallows  ! '  and  then  went  to  sleep  again." 

"  Yes,"  said  the  devil,  "  those  were  good  times." 

"  So  they  were,"  said  Smetse,  "  times  of  riches  and  power 
for  you,  my  lord.  Ah,  we  owe  you  a  great  deal :  the  tithe 
tax,  dropped  by  you  into  the  ear  of  the  Emperor  Charles  ; 
the  arrest  of  my  lords  of  Egmont  and  Hoorn,  whereof  the 
warrant  was  written  in  your  own  fair  hand,  and  of  more 
than  two  thousand  persons  who  perished  at  your  command 
by  fire,  steel,  and  rope  !  " 

131 


Flemish  L,ege7ids 

"  I  do  not  know  the  number,"  said  the  devil,  "  but  it  is 
large.  Give  me,  Smetse,  some  more  of  this  sausage,  which 
is  excellent." 

"  Ah,"  said  the  smith,  "  'tis  not  good  enough  for  your 
lordship.  But  you  are  drinking  nothing.  Empty  this  tan- 
kard, 'tis  double  hruinhier P 

"  Smith,"  said  the  devil,  "  it  is  good  also,  but  I  tasted 
better  at  Pierkyn's  tavern  one  day  when  five  girls  of  the 
Reformed  Faith  were  burnt  together  in  the  market-place. 
That  frothed  better.  While  we  were  drinking  we  heard 
these  five  maids  singing  psalms  in  the  fire.  Ah,  we  drank 
well  that  day  !  But  think,  Smetse,  of  the  great  perversity 
of  those  maids,  all  young  and  strong,  and  so  fast  set  in  their 
crimes  that  they  sang  their  psalms  without  complaint,  smiling 
at  the  fire  and  invoking  God  in  a  heretical  fashion.  Give 
me  more  to  drink,  Smetse." 

"  But,"  said  Smetse,  "  King  Philip  asked  for  your 
canonization  at  Rome,  for  having  served  Spain  and  the 
Pope  so  well ;  why  then  are  you  not  in  paradise,  my 
lord  ?  " 

"  Alas,"  wept  the  devil,  "I  had  no  recognition  of  my 
former  services.  Those  traitors  of  Reformers  are  with  God, 
while  I  burn  in  the  bottom  of  the  pit.  And  there,  without 
rest  or  respite,  I  have  to  sing  heretical  psalms  ;  cruel  punish- 
ment, unspeakable  torment !  These  chants  stick  in  my 
throat,  scrape  up  and  down  in  my  breast,  tearing  my  inner 
flesh  like  a  bristling  porcupine  with  iron  spines.  At  every 
note  a  new  wound,  a  bleeding  sore  :  and  always,  always  I 
have  to  keep  singing,  and  so  it  will  go  on  through  all  the 
length  of  eternity." 

At  these  words  Smetse  was  very  much  frightened,  thinking 
how  heavily  God  had  punished  Jacob  Hessels. 

"  Drink,  my  lord,"  he  said  to  him  ;  "  this  bruinbier  is 
balm  to  sore  throttles." 

Suddenly  the  clock  struck. 

"  Come,  Smetse,"  said  the  devil,  "  'tis  the  hour." 
132 


Smetse  Smee 

But  the  good  smith,  without  answering,  heaved  a  great 
sigh. 

"  What  ails  thee  ?  "  said  the  devil. 

"  Ah,"  said  Smetse,  "  I  am  grieved  at  your  incontinence. 
Have  I.  welcomed  you  so  ill  that  you  will  not  let  me  go,  before 
I  leave  here,  to  embrace  my  wife  a  last  time  and  bid  farewell 
to  my  good  workmen,  and  to  take  one  more  look  at  my  good 
plum-tree  whose  fruits  are  so  rich  and  juicy  ?  Ah,  I  would 
gladly  refresh  myself  with  one  or  two  before  I  go  off  to  that 
land  where  there  is  always  thirst." 

"  Do  not  think  to  escape  me,"  said  the  devil. 

"  That  I  would  not,  my  lord,"  said  Smetse.  "  Come  with 
me,  I  pray  you  most  humbly." 

"  Very  well,"  said  the  devil,  "  but  not  for  long." 

In  the  garden  Smetse  began  to  sigh  afresh. 

"  Ah,"  he  said,  "  look  at  my  plums,  my  lord  ;  will  you 
be  pleased  to  let  me  go  up  and  eat  my  fill  ?  " 

"  Go  up  then,"  said  the  devil. 

Up  in  the  tree  Smetse  began  to  eat  in  a  most  greedy 
manner,  and  suck  in  the  juice  of  the  plums  with  a  great  noise. 
"  Ah,"  cried  he,  "  plums  of  paradise,  Christian  plums,  how 
fat  you  are  !  Princely  plums,  you  would  solace  a  hundred 
devils  burning  in  the  lowest  parts  of  hell.  By  you,  sweet 
plums,  blessed  plums,  is  thirst  driven  out  of  my  throat ;  by 
you,  adorable  plums,  gentle  plums,  is  purged  from  my 
stomach  all  evil  melancholy  ;  by  you,  fresh  plums,  sugary 
plums,  is  diffused  in  my  blood  an  infinite  sweetness.  Ah, 
juicy  plums,  joyous  plums,  faery  plums,  would  that  I  could 
go  on  sucking  you  for  ever  !  " 

And  while  he  was  saying  all  this,  Smetse  went  on  picking 
them,  eating  them  and  sipping  the  juice,  without  ever 
stopping. 

"  Pox  !  "  said  the  devil,  "  it  makes  my  mouth  water  ; 
why  dost  not  throw  me  down  some  of  these  marvellous 
plums  ?  " 

"  Alas,  my  lord,"  said  Smetse,  "  that  I  cannot  do  ;   they 

133 


Flemish  L>ege?2ds 

would  melt  into  water  on  their  fall,  so  delicate  are  they.  But 
if  you  will  be  pleased  to  climb  up  into  the  tree  you  will  find 
much  pleasure  in  store  for  you." 

"  Then  I  will,"  said  the  devil. 

When  he  was  well  settled  on  a  stout  branch  and  there 
regaling  himself  with  plums,  Smetse  slipped  down,  picked 
up  a  stick  lying  on  the  grass  and  fell  to  belabouring  him  with 
great  vigour. 

Feeling  the  stick  on  his  back  the  devil  would  have  leapt 
down  on  the  smith,  but  could  not  move,  for  the  skin  of  his 
seat  held  fast  to  the  branch.  And  he  snorted,  ground  his 
teeth,  and  foamed  at  the  mouth  with  great  rage,  and  also 
by  reason  of  the  pain  which  his  tender  skin  caused  him. 

Meanwhile  Smetse  gave  him  a  good  drubbing,  caressed 
with  his  stick  every  quarter  of  his  body  in  turn,  bruised  him 
to  the  bone,  tore  his  habit,  and  gave  him  as  strong  and 
straight  a  beating  as  was  ever  given  in  the  land  of  Flanders. 
And  he  kept  saying  :  "  You  say  not  a  word  about  my  plums, 
my  lord  ;   they  are  good,  none  the  less." 

"  Ah,"  cried  Hessels,  "  why  am  I  not  free  !  " 

"  Alas,  yes  !  why  are  you  not  free  !  "  answered  Smetse, 
"  you  would  give  me  to  some  little  butcher  among  your 
friends  who  would  cut  me  up  freely  into  slices  like  a  ham, 
under  your  learned  instruction,  for  you  are,  as  I  know  well, 
a  doctor  of  torment.  But  are  you  not  being  well  tormented 
in  turn  by  my  stick  ?  Alas,  yes  !  why  are  you  not  free  ! 
You  would  hoist  me  up  on  some  blessed  gallows,  and  every 
one  would  see  me  hanging  in  the  air,  and  freely  would  Master 
Hessels  laugh.  And  so  he  would  have  his  revenge  on  me 
for  this  excellent  drubbing  which  I  am  giving  him  with  such 
freedom.  For  nothing  in  this  world  is  so  free  as  a  free  stick 
falling  freely  on  an  unfree  councillor.  Alas,  yes  !  why  are 
you  not  free  !  You  would  free  my  head  from  my  body,  as 
you  did  with  such  satisfaction  to  my  masters  of  Egmont  and 
Hoorn.  Alas,  yes  !  why  are  you  not  free  !  then  we  should 
see  Smetse  in  some  good  little  fire,  which  would  roast  him 

134 


Smetse  Smee 

freely,  as  was  done  to  the  poor  maids  of  the  reformed  faith  ; 
and  Smetse,  like  them,  would  be  heard  singing  with  a  free 
soul  to  the  God  of  free  believers,  and  with  a  free  conscience 
stronger  than  the  flame,  while  Master  Hessels  drank  hruinbier 
and  said  that  it  frothed  nicely." 

"  Oh,"  said  the  devil,  "  why  beat  me  so  cruelly,  without 
pity  for  my  white  hairs  ?  " 

"  As  for  thy  white  hair,"  said  Smetse,  "  'tis  the  hair  of 
an  old  tiger  who  ate  up  our  country.  For  this  reason  it  gives 
me  sweet  pleasure  to  beat  thee  with  this  oaken  stick  ;  and 
also  in  order  that  thou  mayst  give  me  permission  to  stay 
another  seven  years  on  this  earth,  where  I  find  myself  so 
well  content,  if  it  so  please  thee." 

"  Seven  years  !  "  said  the  devil,  "  do  not  count  on  that ; 
I  would  rather  bleed  under  thy  stick." 

"  Ah,"  said  Smetse,  "  I  see  that  your  skin  is  fond  of  good 
blows.  These  are  tasty  ones,  it  is  true.  But  the  best  of 
cheer  is  unwholesome  if  taken  in  excess.  So  when  you  have 
had  enough  of  them,  be  so  good  as  to  tell  me.  I  will  put 
a  stop  to  this  feast,  but  for  that  I  must  have  the  seven 
years." 

"  Never,"  said  Hessels  ;  and  lifting  his  snout  into  the 
air  like  a  baying  dog,  he  cried  out :  "  Devils  to  the  rescue  !  " 
But  this  he  did  so  loudly,  and  in  such  screeching  wise,  that 
at  the  sound  of  his  cracked  voice  blaring  out  like  a  trumpet, 
all  the  workmen  came  to  see  what  it  was  about. 

"  You  do  not  shout  loud  enough,"  said  Smetse,  "  I  will 
help  you."  And  he  beat  him  the  harder,  so  that  the  devil 
cried  the  louder. 

"  See,"  said  Smetse,  "  how  well  this  stick  makes  the  little 
nightingale  sing  in  my  plum-tree.  He  is  saying  over  his 
lied  of  love  to  call  hither  his  fair  mate.  She  will  come  by 
and  by,  my  lord  ;  but  come  down,  I  pray  you,  and  await 
her  below,  for  they  say  that  the  night  dew  is  deadly  at  a 
height  from  the  ground." 

"  BaeSy''  said  certain  workmen,  "  is  it  not  my  lord  Jacob 


Flemish  Lege?ic/s 

Hessels,  the  Bloody  Councillor,  who  is  perched  up  there  in 
thy  plum-tree  ?  " 

"  Yes,  lads,"  answered  Smetse,  "  'tis  indeed  that  worthy 
man.  He  seeks  high  places  now  as  he  did  all  his  life,  and 
so  also  at  the  end  of  it,  when  he  swung  in  the  air,  putting 
out  his  tongue  at  the  passers-by.  For  that  which  is  of  the 
gallows  returns  to  the  gallows,  and  the  rope  will  take  back 
its  own.     'Tis  written." 

"  BaeSj^  said  they,  "  can  we  not  help  to  bring  him 
down  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  he.  And  the  workmen  went  off  to  the 
smithy. 

Meanwhile  the  devil  said  nothing,  trying  all  the  time  to 
get  his  seat  away  from  the  branch.  And  he  struggled, 
wriggled  about,  twisted  himself  a  hundred  different  ways, 
and  used  as  levers,  to  lift  himself  up,  feet,  hands,  and  head, 
but  all  in  vain. 

And  Smetse,  belabouring  him  well,  said  to  him  :  "  My 
lord  Councillor,  you  are  fast  stuck,  it  seems,  to  the  saddle ; 
but  I  will  have  you  out  of  it,  have  you  out  as  fast  as  I  can, 
for  if  I  do  not  so,  beating  you  with  all  my  strength,  you  will 
tear  up  out  of  the  ground  the  tree  and  its  roots,  and  the  good 
folk  will  see  you  walking  along,  dragging  a  plum-tree  from 
your  seat  like  a  tail,  which  would  be  a  piteous  and  laughable 
spectacle  for  such  a  noble  devil  as  yourself  to  make.  Give 
me  rather  the  oeven  years." 

"  Baes^''  5>.id  the  workmen,  who  had  returned  from  the 
smithy  with  hammers  and  iron  bars,  "  here  we  are  at  your 
orders  ;   what  shall  we  do  ?  " 

"  Well,"  said  Smetse,  "  since  I  have  combed  him  down 
with  oaken  staves  we  will  now  louse  him  with  hammers  and 
bars." 

"Mercy,  Smetse,  mercy  !  "  cried  the  devil ;  hammers  and 
bars,  this  is  too  much  ;  thou  hast  the  seven  years,  smith." 

■  "  Make  haste,"  said  Smetse,  ''  and  write  me  the  quit- 
tance." 
136 


Smetse  Smee 

"  Here  it  is,"  said  he. 

The  smith  took  it,  saw  that  it  was  in  good  order,  and  said  : 
"  I  desire  that  thou  come  down." 

But  the  devil  was  so  weak  and  enfeebled  by  the  blows 
he  had  had  that  when  he  tried  to  leap  he  fell  on  his  back. 
And  he  went  off  limping,  shaking  his  fist  at  Smetse,  and 
saying  :    "  I  await  thee,  in  seven  years,  in  hell,  smith." 

"  So  you  may,"  said  Smetse. 

XI.  Wherein  the  workmen  hold  fair  speech  with  Smetse. 
While  the  devil  was  making  off,   Smetse,  watching  his 

workmen,  saw  that  they  were  looking  at  one  another  strangely, 
spoke  together  in  low  voices,  and  seemed  awkward  in  their 
manner,  like  people  who  would  speak  out,  but  dare  not. 

And  he  said  to  himself  :  "  Are  they  going  to  denounce 
me  to  the  priests  ?  " 

Suddenly  Flipke  the  Bear  came  up  to  him.  "  Baes"  said 
he,  "  we  know  well  enough  that  this  ghost  of  Hessels  was 
sent  to  thee  by  him  who  is  lord  below  ;  thou  hast  made  a 
pact  with  the  devil  and  art  rich  only  by  his  money.  We 
have  guessed  as  much  for  some  time.  But  so  that  thou 
should  not  be  vexed,  none  of  us  have  spoken  of  it  in  the 
town,  and  none  will  so  speak.  We  would  tell  thee  this  to 
put  thy  mind  at  rest.  And  so  now,  baes,  good  night  and 
quiet  sleep  to  thee." 

"  Thank  you,  lads,"  said  Smetse,  greatly  softened. 

And  they  went  their  several  ways. 

XII.  How  that  Smetse  would  not  give  his  secret  into  his  wife^s 
tongue'' s  keeping. 

In  the  kitchen  Smetse  found  his  wife  on  her  knees  beating 
her  breast,  weeping,  sighing,  sobbing,  and  saying  :  "  Jesus 
Lord  God,  he  has  made  a  pact  with  the  devil ;  but  'tis  not 
with  my  consent,  I  swear.  And  you  also.  Madam  the 
Virgin,  you  know  it,  and  you  also,  all  my  masters  the  saints. 
Ah,  I  am  indeed  wretched,  not  on  my  own  account,  but  for 

137 


Fle^nish  Lege?i(is 

my  poor  man,  who  for  the  sake  of  some  miserable  gold  sold 
his  soul  to  the  devil !  Alas,  yes,  sell  it  he  did  !  Ah,  my 
saintly  masters,  who  are  yourselves  so  happy  and  in  such 
glory,  pray  the  very  good  God  for  him,  and  deign  to  consider 
that  if,  as  I  dare  hope,  I  die  a  Christian  death  and  go  to 
paradise,  I  shall  be  all  alone  there,  eating  my  rice  pudding 
with  silver  spoons,  while  my  poor  man  is  burning  in  hell, 
crying  out  in  thirst  and  hunger,  and  I  not  able  to  give  him 
either  meat  or  drink.  .  .  .  Alas,  that  will  make  me  so  un- 
happy !  Ah,  my  good  masters  the  saints,  Madam  the 
Virgin,  My  Lord  Jesus,  he  sinned  but  this  once,  and  was  all 
the  rest  of  his  life  a  good  man,  a  good  Christian,  kind  to  the 
poor  and  soft  of  heart.  Save  him  from  the  fires  which  burn 
for  ever,  and  do  not  separate  above  those  who  were  so  long 
united  below.     Pray  for  him,  pray  for  me,  alas  !  " 

"  Wife,"  said  Smetse,  "  thou  art  very  wretched,  it  seems." 

"  Ah,  wicked  man,"  said  she,  "  now  I  know  all.  'Twas 
hell  fire  which  came  bursting  into  the  house  and  lit  up  the 
forge ;  those  master-bakers,  brewers,  and  vintners  were 
devils,  all  of  them,  and  devil  also  that  ugly  man  who  showed 
thee  the  treasure  and  gave  me  so  grievous  a  buffet.  Who 
will  dare  to  live  peaceably  in  this  house  from  now  on  ?  Alas, 
our  food  is  the  devil's,  our  drink  also  ;  devil's  meat,  loaves, 
and  cheeses,  devil's  money,  house,  and  all.  Whoever  should 
dig  under  this  dwelling  would  see  the  fires  of  hell  gush  out 
incontinent.  There  are  all  the  devils,  I  see  them  above, 
below,  on  the  right  hand,  on  the  left,  awaiting  their  prey 
with  dropped  jaws,  like  tigers.  Ah,  what  a  fine  sight 
'twill  be  to  see  my  poor  man  torn  into  a  hundred  pieces 
by  all  these  devils,  and  that  in  seven  years,  for  he  said, 
as  I  heard  well  enough,  that  he  would  come  back  in  seven 
years." 

"  Weep  not,  wife,"  said  Smetse,  "  in  seven  years  I  may 
again  be  master  as  I  was  to-day." 

"  But,"  said  she,  "  if  he  had  not  gone  up  into  the  plum- 
tree,  what  wouldst  thou  have  done,  poor  beggar-man  ?     And 

■38 


Smetse  Smee 

what  if  he  will  not  let  himself  fall  a  second  time  into  thy 
snare  as  he  did  to-day  ?  " 

"  Wife,"  said  Smetse,  "  he  will  so  fall,  for  my  snares  are 
from  heaven,  and  the  things  which  are  from  God  can  always 
get  the  better  of  devils." 

"  Art  not  lying  again  ?  "  she  said.  "  And  wilt  tell  me 
what  they  are  ?  " 

"  That  I  cannot,"  said  he,  "  for  devils  have  sharp  ears 
and  would  hear  me  telling  thee,  no  matter  how  low  I  spoke  ; 
and  then  I  should  be  taken  off  to  hell  without  mercy." 

"  Ah,"  said  she,  "  then  I  will  not  ask,  though  'tis  not 
pleasant  for  me  to  live  here  in  ignorance  of  everything,  like 
a  stranger.  Nevertheless  I  would  rather  have  thee  silent 
and  saved  than  talking  and  damned." 

"  Wife,"  he  said,  "  thou  art  wise  when  thou  speakest 
so." 

"  I  will  pray,"  she  said,  "  every  day  for  thy  deliverance, 
and  have  a  good  mass  said  for  thee  at  St.  Bavon." 

"  But,"  said  he,  "  is  it  with  devil's  money  thou  wilt  pay 
for  this  mass  ?  " 

"  Have  no  care  for  that,"  said  she,  "  when  this  money 
enters  the  church  coffers  'twill  become  suddenly  holy." 

"  Do  as  thou  wilt,  wife,"  said  Smetse. 

"  Ah,"  said  she,  "  My  Lord  Jesus  shall  have  a  stout 
candle  each  day,  and  Madam  the  Virgin  likewise." 

"  Do  not  forget  my  master  St.  Joseph,"  said  Smetse, 
"  for  we  owe  him  much." 

XIII .  Of  the  Bloody  Duke. 

The  end  of  the  seventh  year  came  again  in  its  turn,  and 
on  the  last  evening  there  crossed  the  threshold  of  Smetse 
Smee's  dwelling  a  man  with  a  sharp  and  haughty  Spanish 
face,  a  nose  like  a  hawk's  beak,  hard  and  staring  eyes,  and 
a  white  beard,  long  and  pointed.  For  the  rest  he  was  dressed 
in  armour  finely  worked  and  most  richly  gilt  ;  decorated  with 
the  illustrious  order  of  the  Fleece  ;    wore  a  fine  red  sash  ; 

139 


Flemish  Lep-e7jds 

o 

rested  his  left  hand  on  the  hilt  of  his  sword,  and  held  in  his 
right  the  seven  years'  pact  and  a  marshal's  wand. 

Coming  into  the  forge  he  walked  straight  towards  Smetse, 
holding  his  head  loftily  and  without  deigning  to  notice  any 
of  the  workmen. 

The  smith  was  standing  in  a  corner,  wondering  how  he 
could  make  the  devil  who  was  sent  for  him  sit  down  in  the 
arm-chair,  when  Flipke  ran  quickly  up  to  him  and  said  in 
his  ear  :   "  Baes,  the  Bloody  Duke  is  coming,  take  care  !  " 

"  Woe  !  "  said  Smetse,  speaking  to  himself,  "  'tis  all  up 
with  me,  if  d'Alva  has  come  to  fetch  me." 

Meanwhile  the  devil  approached  the  smith,  showed  him 
the  pact,  and  took  him  by  the  arm  without  a  word  to  lead 
him  off. 

"  My  Lord,"  said  Smetse  in  a  most  sorrowful  manner, 
"  whither  would  you  take  me  ?  To  hell.  I  follow  you. 
'Tis  too  great  honour  for  one  so  mean  as  I  to  be  ordered  by 
so  noble  a  devil  as  yourself.  But  is  it  yet  the  appointed 
time  ?  I  think  it  is  not,  and  your  highness  has  too  upright 
a  soul  to  take  me  off  before  the  time  written  in  the  deed. 
In  the  meantime  I  beg  your  highness  to  be  seated  :  Flipke, 
a  chair  for  My  Lord ;  the  best  in  my  poor  dwelling,  the  large, 
well-padded  arm-chair  which  stands  in  my  kitchen,  beside 
the  press,  near  the  chimney,  beneath  the  picture  of  my  master 
St.  Joseph.  Wipe  it  well,  lad,  so  that  no  dust  may  be  left 
on  it ;   and  quick,  for  the  noble  duke  is  standing," 

Flipke  ran  into  the  kitchen  and  came  back,  saying : 
"  Baes,  I  cannot  lift  that  arm-chair  alone,  'tis  so  heavy." 

Then  Smetse  feigned  great  anger  and  said  to  his  work- 
men :  "  Do  ye  not  hear  ?  He  cannot  lift  it  alone.  Go  and 
help  him,  and  if  it  takes  ten  of  you  let  ten  go.  And  quick 
now.  Fie  !  the  blockheads,  can  ye  not  sec  that  the  noble 
duke  is  standing  ?  " 

Nine  workmen  ran  to  obey  him  and  brought  the  chair 
into  the  forge,  though  not  without  difficulty.  Smetse  said  : 
"  Put  it  there,  behind  My  Lord.  Is  there  any  dust  on  it  ? 
140 


Smetse  Smee 

By  Artevelde  !  they  have  not  touched  this  corner.  I  will 
do  it  myself.  Now  'tis  as  clean  as  new-washed  glass.  Will 
your  highness  deign  to  be  seated  ?  " 

This  the  devil  did,  and  then  looked  round  him  with  great 
haughtiness  and  disdain.  But  of  a  sudden  the  smith  fell  at 
his  feet,  and  said  with  mocking  laughter  :  "  Sir  duke,  you 
see  before  you  the  most  humble  of  your  servants,  a  poor  man 
living  like  a  Christian,  serving  God,  honouring  princes,  and 
anxious,  if  such  is  your  lordly  pleasure,  to  continue  in  this 
way  of  life  seven  years  more." 

"  Thou  shalt  not  have  one  minute,"  said  the  devil,  "  come, 
Fleming,  come  with  me." 

And  he  tried  to  rise  from  the  chair,  but  could  not.  And 
while  he  was  struggling  with  might  and  main,  making  a 
thousand  vain  efforts,  the  good  smith  cried  joyously  :  "  Would 
your  highness  get  up  ?  Ah,  'tis  too  soon  !  Let  your  high- 
ness wait,  he  is  not  yet  rested  after  his  long  journey ;  long, 
I  make  bold  to  say,  for  it  must  be  a  good  hundred  leagues 
from  hell  to  my  smithy,  and  that  is  a  long  way  for  such 
noble  feet,  by  dusty  roads.  Ah,  My  Lord,  let  yourself  rest 
a  little  in  this  good  chair.  Nevertheless,  if  you  are  in  great 
haste  to  be  off,  grant  me  the  seven  years  and  I  will  give  you 
in  return  your  noble  leave  and  a  full  flask  of  Spanish  wine." 

"  I  care  nothing  for  thy  wine,"  answered  the  devil. 

"  Baesj'^  said  Flipke,  "  offer  him  blood,  he  will  drink 
then." 

"  My  lad,"  said  Smetse,  "  thou  knowest  well  enough  we 
have  no  such  thing  as  blood  in  our  cellars  hereabouts,  for 
that  is  no  Flemish  drink,  but  one  that  we  leave  to  Spain. 
Therefore  his  highness  must  be  so  good  as  to  excuse  me. 
Nevertheless,  I  think  he  is  thirsty,  not  for  blood,  but  for 
blows,  and  of  those  I  will  give  him  his  illustrious  fill,  since 
he  will  not  grant  me  the  seven  years." 

"  Smith,"  said  the  devil,  looking  at  Smetse  with  great 
contempt,  "  thou  wouldst  not  dare  beat  me,  I  think  ?  " 

"  Yes,  My  Lord,"  said  the  good  man.     "  You  would  have 

141 


Fleinish  Legends 

me  dead.  For  my  part  I  hold  to  my  skin,  and  this  not 
without  good  reason,  for  it  has  ahvays  been  faithful  to  me 
and  well  fastened.  Would  it  not  be  a  criminal  act  to  break 
off  in  this  sudden  fashion  so  close  a  partnership  ?  And 
besides,  you  would  take  me  off  with  you  to  hell,  where  the 
air  is  filled  with  the  stench  of  the  divers  cookeries  for  damned 
souls  which  are  set  up  there.  Ah,  rather  than  go  thither 
I  would  beat  your  highness  for  seven  years." 

"  Fleming,"  said  the  devil,  "  thou  speakest  without 
respect." 

"  Yes,  My  Lord,"  said  Smetse,  "  but  I  will  hit  you  with 
veneration." 

And  so  saying  he  gave  him  with  his  clenched  fist  a  terrible 
great  blow  on  the  nose,  whereat  the  devil  seemed  astonished, 
dazed,  and  angry,  like  a  powerful  king  struck  by  a  low-born 
servant.  And  he  tried  to  leap  upon  the  smith,  clenched  his 
fists,  ground  his  teeth,  and  shot  out  blood  from  his  nose, 
his  mouth,  his  eyes,  and  his  ears,  so  angry  was  he. 

"  Ah,"  said  Smetse,  "  you  seem  angry,  My  Lord.  But 
deign  to  consider  that  since  you  will  not  listen  to  my  words, 
I  must  speak  to  you  by  blows.  By  this  argument  am  I  not 
doing  my  best  to  soften  your  heart  to  my  piteous  case  ? 
Alas,  deign  to  consider  that  my  humble  fist  is  making  its 
supplication  as  best  it  can  to  your  illustrious  eyes,  begs 
seven  years  from  your  noble  nose,  implores  them  from  your 
ducal  jaw.  Do  not  these  respectful  taps  tell  your  lordly 
cheeks  how  happy,  joyous,  and  well-liking  I  should  be  during 
those  seven  years  ?  All,  let  yourself  be  convinced.  But,  I 
see,  I  must  speak  to  you  in  another  fashion,  with  the  words 
of  iron  bars,  the  prayers  of  tongs,  and  the  supplications  of 
sledge-hammers.  Lads,"  said  the  smith  to  his  workmen, 
"  will  you  be  pleased  to  hold  converse  with  My  Lord  ?  " 

"  Yes,  haes^''  said  they. 

And  together  with  Smetse  they  chose  their  tools.  But 
it  was  the  oldest  who  picked  the  heaviest  ones,  and  were  the 
hottest  with  rage,  because  it  was  they  who  in  former  days 
142 


Smetse  Smee 

had  lost,  through  the  duke's  doing,  many  friends  and  relatives 
by  steel,  by  stake,  and  by  live  burial,  and  they  cried  :  "  God 
is  on  our  side,  he  has  delivered  the  enemy  into  our  hands. 
Out  upon  the  Bloody  Duke,  the  master-butcher,  the  lord  of 
the  axe  !  " 

And  all  of  them,  young  and  old,  cursed  the  devil  with  a 
thunder  of  cries  ;  and  they  came  up  to  him  menacingly, 
surrounding  the  chair  and  raising  their  tools  to  strike. 

But  Smetse  stopped  them  and  spoke  again  to  the  devil. 
"  If  your  highness,"  he  said,  "  is  minded  to  hold  to  his  noble 
bones,  let  him  deign  to  grant  me  the  seven  years,  for  the 
time  for  laughter  is  past,  let  me  tell  you." 

"  Baes^"*  said  the  workmen,  "  whence  comes  to  thee  this 
kindness  beyond  measure  ?  Why  hold  so  long  and  fair  parley 
with  this  fellow  ?  Let  us  first  break  him  up,  and  then  he 
will  offer  thee  the  seven  years,  of  his  own  accord." 

"  Seven  years  !  "  said  the  devil,  "  seven  years  !  he  shall 
not  have  so  much  as  the  shadow  of  a  minute.  Strike,  men 
of  Ghent,  the  lion  is  in  the  net ;  ye  who  could  not  find  a 
hole  deep  enough  to  hide  yourselves  in  when  he  was  free  and 
showed  his  fangs.  Flemish  cowards,  see  what  I  think  of  you 
and  your  threats."     And  he  spat  on  them. 

At  this  spittle  the  bars,  hammers,  and  other  tools  fell 
on  him  thick  as  hail,  breaking  his  bones  and  the  plates  of 
his  armour,  and  Smetse  and  his  workmen  said  as  they  beat 
to  their  hearts'  content  : 

"  Cowards  were  we,  who  wished  to  worship  God  in  the 
sincerity  of  our  hearts  ;  valiant  was  he  who  prevented  us 
with  steel,  stake,  and  live  burial. 

"  Cowards  were  we  for  having  always  laughed  readily  and 
drunk  joyously,  like  men  who,  having  done  what  they  had 
to  do,  make  light  of  the  rest  :  valiant  was  this  dark  personage 
when  he  had  poor  men  of  the  people  arrested  in  the  midst 
of  their  merrymaking  at  Kermis-time,  and  put  death  where 
had  been  laughter. 

"  Cowards   were   the   eighteen    thousand   eight   hundred 

H3 


F/emish  Lege?tds 

persons  who  died  for  the  glory  of  God  ;  cowards  those  number- 
less others  who  by  the  rapine,  brutality  and  insolence  of  the 
fighting  men,  lost  their  lives  in  these  lands  and  others. 
Valiant  was  he  who  ordained  their  sufferings,  and  more 
valiant  still  when  he  celebrated  his  own  evil  deeds  by  a 
banquet. 

"  Cowards  were  we  always,  we  who,  after  a  battle,  treated 
our  prisoners  like  brothers  ;  valiant  was  he  who,  after  the 
defeat  in  Friesland,  had  his  own  men  slaughtered. 

"  Cowards  were  we,  who  laboured  without  ceasing,  spread- 
ing abroad  over  the  whole  world  the  work  of  our  hands  ; 
valiant  was  he  when,  under  the  cloak  of  religion,  he  slew  the 
richer  among  us  without  distinction  between  Romans  and 
Reformers,  and  robbed  us  by  pillage  and  extortion  of  thirty- 
six  million  florins.  For  the  world  is  turned  upside  down  ; 
cowardly  is  the  busy  bee  who  makes  the  honey,  and  valiant 
the  idle  drone  who  steals  it  away.  Spit,  noble  duke,  on  these 
Flemish  cowards." 

But  the  duke  could  neither  spit  nor  cough,  for  from  the 
roughness  of  the  blows  they  had  given  him  he  had  altogether 
lost  the  shape  of  a  man,  so  mingled  and  beaten  together 
were  bones,  flesh,  and  steel.  But  there  was  no  blood  to  be 
seen,  which  was  a  marvellous  thing.  Suddenly,  while  the 
workmen,  wearied  with  beating,  were  taking  breath,  a  weak 
voice  came  out  from  this  hotch-potch  of  bones,  flesh,  and 
steel,  saying  : 

"  Thou  hast  the  seven  years,  Smetse." 

"  Very  well  then.  My  Lord,"  said  he,  "  sign  the  quit- 
tance." 

This  the  devil  did. 

"  And  now,"  said  Smetse,  "  will  your  highness  please  to 
get  up." 

At  these  words,  by  great  marvel,  the  devil  regained  his 
shape.  But  while  he  was  walking  away,  holding  up  his  head 
with  great  haughtiness  and  not  deigning  to  look  at  his  feet, 
he  tripped  over  a  sledge  lying  on  the  ground,  and  fell  on  his 
144 


Smetse  Smee 

nose  with  great  indignity,  thereby  giving  much  occasion  for 
laughter  to  the  workmen,  who  did  not  fail  to  make  use  of 
it.  Picking  himself  up  he  threatened  them  with  his  fist,  but 
they  burst  out  laughing  more  loudly  than  ever.  He  came 
at  them,  grinding  his  teeth  ;  they  hooted  him.  He  tried  to 
strike  with  his  sword  a  short  and  sturdy  little  workman;  but 
the  man  seized  the  sword  from  his  hands  and  broke  it  in 
three  pieces.  He  struck  another  in  the  face  with  his  fist, 
but  the  man  gave  him  so  good  and  valiant  a  kick  as  to  send 
him  sprawling  on  the  quay  with  his  legs  in  the  air.  There, 
flushing  with  shame,  he  melted  into  red  smoke,  like  a  vapour 
of  blood,  and  the  workmen  heard  a  thousand  joyous  and 
merry  voices,  saying  :  "  Beaten  is  the  Bloody  Duke,  shamed 
is  the  lord  of  the  axe,  inglorious  the  prince  of  butchers  ! 
Vlaenderland  tot  eeuwigheid !  Flanders  for  ever  !  "  And  a 
thousand  pairs  of  hands  beat  applause  all  together.  And 
the  dawn  broke. 

XIV .  Of  the  great  fears  and  pains  of  Smetse'' s  wife. 

Smetse,  going  to  look  for  his  wife,  found  her  in  the  kitchen 
on  her  knees  before  the  picture  of  St.  Joseph.  "  Well, 
mother,"  said  he,  "  what  didst  think  of  our  dance  ?  Was 
it  not  a  merry  one  ?  Ah,  henceforth  they  will  call  our  house 
the  House  of  Beaten  Devils." 

"  Yes,"  said  his  wife,  wagging  her  head,  "  yes,  and  also 
the  house  of  Smetse  who  was  carried  away  to  hell.  For 
that  is  where  thou  wilt  go  ;  I  know  it,  I  feel  it,  I  foretell  it. 
This  devil's  coming  all  accoutred  for  war  presages  evil.  He 
will  come  back,  no  longer  alone,  but  with  a  hundred  thousand 
devils  armed  like  himself.  Ah,  my  poor  man  !  They  will 
carry  lances,  swords,  pikes,  hooked  axes,  and  arquebuses. 
They  v^dll  drag  behind  them  canon  which  they  will  fire  at 
us  ;  and  everything  will  be  ground  to  pieces,  thou,  I,  the 
smithy,  and  the  workmen.  Alas,  everything  will  be  levelled 
to  the  ground !  And  where  our  smithy  now  stands  will  be 
nothing  but  a  sorry  heap  of  dust.     And  the  folk  walking 

K  145 


Flemish  Lege? ids 

past  along  the  quay  will  say  when  they  see  this  dust  :  '  There 
lies  the  house  of  Smetse,  the  fool  who  sold  his  soul  to  the 
devil.'  And  I,  after  dying  in  this  fashion,  shall  go  to  Paradise, 
as  I  dare  to  hope.  But  thee,  my  man,  oh,  woe  unspeakable  ! 
they  will  take  away  with  them  and  drag  through  fire,  smoke, 
brimstone,  pitch,  boiling  oil,  to  that  terrible  place  where 
those  are  punished  who,  wishing  to  break  a  pact  made  with 
the  devil,  have  no  special  help  from  God  or  his  holy  saints. 
Poor  little  man,  my  good  comrade,  dost  know  what  there 
is  in  store  for  thee  ?  Ho,  a  gulf  as  deep  as  the  heavens  are 
high,  and  studded  all  down  its  terrible  sides  with  jutting 
points  of  rock,  iron  spikes,  horrid  spears,  and  a  thousand 
dreadful  pikes.  And  dost  know  what  manner  of  gulf 
this  is,  my  man  ?  'Tis  a  gulf  wherein  a  man  may  keep 
falling  always — dost  understand  me,  always,  always — gashed 
by  the  rocks,  cut  about  by  the  spears,  torn  open  by 
the  pikes,  always,  always,  down  all  the  long  length  of 
eternity." 

"  But,  wife,"  said  Smetse,  "  hast  ever  seen  this  gulf 
whereof  thou  speakest  ?  " 

"  Nay,"  said  she,  "  but  I  know  what  manner  of  place  it 
is,  for  I  have  often  heard  tell  of  it  in  the  church  of  St.  Bavon. 
And  the  good  canon  predicant  would  not  lie." 

"  Ah,  no/'  said  Smetse. 

XV.  Of  the  Bloody  King. 

When  the  last  night  of  the  seventh  year  was  come  Smetse 
was  in  his  smithy,  looking  at  the  enchanted  sack,  and  asking 
himself  with  much  anxiety  how  he  could  make  the  devil  get 
into  it. 

While  he  was  wondering,  the  smithy  suddenly  became 
filled  with  an  evil  stench  of  the  most  putrid,  offensive  and 
filthy  kind.  Innumerable  lice  swarmed  over  the  threshold, 
ceiling,  anvils,  sledges,  bars  and  bellows,  Smetse  and  his  men, 
who  were  all  as  if  blinded,  for  these  lice  were  as  thick  in  the 
smithy  as  smoke,  cloud,  or  fog. 
146 


Smetse  Smee 

And  a  melancholy  but  imperative  voice  spoke,  saying  : 
*'  Smetse,  come  with  me  ;    the  seven  years  have  struck." 

And  Smetse  and  his  workmen,  looking  as  well  as  they 
could  in  the  direction  whence  the  voice  came,  saw  a  man 
coming  towards  them  with  a  royal  crown  on  his  head,  and 
on  his  back  a  cloak  of  cloth-of-gold.  But  beneath  the  cloak 
the  man  was  naked,  and  on  his  breast  were  four  great 
abscesses,  which  formed  together  a  single  wide  sore,  and  from 
this  came  the  stench  which  filled  the  smithy,  and  the  clouds 
of  lice  which  swarmed  round  about.  And  he  had  on  his 
right  leg  another  abscess,  more  filthy,  rank,  and  offensive 
than  the  rest.  The  man  himself  was  white-faced,  auburn- 
haired,  red-bearded,  with  lips  a  little  drawn,  and  mouth  open 
somewhat.  In  his  grey  eyes  were  melancholy,  en\'y,  dis- 
simulation, hypocrisy,  harshness,  and  evil  rancour. 

When  the  older  workmen  saw  him  they  cried  out  in  a 
voice  like  thunder  :  "  Smetse,  the  Bloody  King  is  here,  take 
care  !  " 

"  Silence,"  cried  the  smith,  "  peace  there,  silence  and 
veneration  !  Let  every  man  doff  his  bonnet  to  the  greatest 
king  that  ever  lived,  Philip  II  by  name,  King  of  Castile, 
Leon,  and  Aragon,  Count  of  Flanders,  Duke  of  Burgundy 
and  Brabant,  Palatine  of  Holland  and  Zeeland,  most  illus- 
trious of  all  illustrious  princes,  great  among  the  great,  vic- 
torious among  victors.  Sire,"  said  he  to  the  devil,  "  you 
do  me  unparalleled  honour  to  come  hither  in  person  to  lead 
me  to  hell,  but  my  humble  Ghentish  lowness  makes  bold  to 
suggest  to  your  Royal  and  Palatine  Highness  that  the  ap- 
pointed hour  has  not  yet  struck.  Therefore  if  it  pleases 
your  Majesty  I  will  pass  on  earth  the  brief  time  which  is 
still  left  to  me  to  live." 

"  I  allow  it,"  said  the  devil. 

Meanwhile  Smetse  seemed  unable  to  take  his  eyes  off  the 
devil,  and  showed  himself  very  sorrowful  and  heavy,  nodding 
his  head,  and  saying  several  times  : 

"  Alas,  alas  !  cruel  torment !  evil  hour  !  " 

H7 


Flemish  Lege?jds 

"  What  ails  thee  ?  "  said  the  devil. 

"  Sire,"  said  Smetse,  "  nothing  ails  me  but  the  great 
sorrow  which  I  have  at  seeing  how  harsh  God  has  been 
towards  you,  leaving  you  to  bear  in  hell  the  malady  whereof 
you  died.  Ah,  'tis  a  most  pitiful  sight  to  see  so  great  a 
king  as  you  consumed  by  these  lice  and  eaten  up  with  these 
abscesses." 

"  I  care  nothing  for  thy  pity,"  answered  the  king. 

"  Sire,"  said  Smetse  further,  "  deign  to  think  no  evil  of 
my  words.  I  have  never  been  taught  fine  ways  of  speech  ; 
but  notwithstanding  this  I  make  bold  to  sympathize  with 
your  illustrious  sufferings,  and  this  the  more  in  that  I  myself 
have  known  and  suffered  your  ill,  and  you  can  still  see.  Sire, 
the  terrible  marks  on  my  skin."  And  Smetse,  uncovering 
his  breast,  showed  the  marks  of  the  wounds  which  he  had 
received  from  the  traitor  Spanish  when  he  sailed  the  seas 
with  the  men  of  Zeeland. 

"  But,"  said  the  devil-king,  "  thou  seemest  well  enough 
cured,  smith  !     Wast  thou  verily  as  sick  as  I  ?  " 

"  Like  you.  Sire,"  said  Smetse,  "  I  was  nothing  but  a 
heap  of  living  filth  ;  like  you  I  was  fetid,  rank,  and  offensive, 
and  every  one  fled  from  me  as  they  fled  from  you  ;  like  you 
I  was  eaten  up  with  lice  ;  but  what  could  not  be  done  for 
you  by  the  most  illustrious  doctor  Olias  of  Madrid,  a  humble 
carpenter  did  for  me." 

At  these  words  the  devil-king  cocked  his  ear.  "  In  what 
place,"  said  he,  "  does  this  carpenter  dwell,  and  what  is  his 
name  ?  " 

"  He  dwells,"  said  Smetse,  "  in  the  heavens,  and  his 
name  is  Master  St.  Joseph." 

"  And  did  this  great  saint  appear  to  thee  by  especial 
miracle  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Sire." 

"  And  by  virtue  of  what  didst  thou  merit  this  rare  and 
blessed  favour  ?  " 

"  Sire,"  answered  Smetse,  "  I  have  never  by  my  own 
148 


Smetse  Smee 

virtue  merited  so  much  as  the  shadow  of  a  single  grain  of 
particular  grace,  but  in  my  sufferings  I  prayed  humbly  and 
with  faith  to  my  blessed  patron,  Master  St.  Joseph,  and  he 
deigned  to  come  to  my  succour." 

"  Tell  me  of  this  happening,  smith." 

"  Sire,"  said  Smetse,  holding  up  the  sack,  "  this  was  my 
remedy." 

"  This  sack  ?  "  asked  the  devil. 

"  Yes,  Sire  :  but  will  your  Majesty  deign  to  look  closely 
at  the  hemp  whereof  it  is  woven.  Do  you  not  think  its 
quality  altogether  strange  !  Alas,"  said  Smetse,  running  on 
with  his  talk,  and  appearing  to  go  into  an  ecstasy,  "  'tis  not 
given  to  us  poor  men  to  see  every  day  such  hemp  as  this. 
For  this  is  not  earthly  hemp,  but  hemp  of  heaven,  hemp  from 
the  good  Paradise,  sown  by  my  master  St.  Joseph  round 
about  the  tree  of  life,  harvested  and  woven  under  his  especial 
orders  to  make  sacks  wherein  the  beans  are  stored  which  my 
masters  the  angels  eat  on  fast-days." 

"  But,"  asked  the  devil,  "  how  did  this  sack  come  into 
thy  hands  ?  " 

"  Ah^  Sire,  by  great  marvel.  One  night  I  was  in  my  bed, 
suffering  twenty  deaths  from  my  ulcers,  and  almost  at  the 
point  of  giving  up  my  soul.  I  saw  my  good  wife  weeping  ; 
I  heard  my  neighbours  and  workmen,  of  whom  there  were 
many,  saying  round  about  my  bed  the  prayers  for  the  dying  ; 
my  body  was  overcome  with  pain  and  my  soul  with  despair. 
Nevertheless  I  kept  praying  to  my  blessed  patron  and  swore 
that  if  he  brought  me  out  of  that  pass,  I  would  burn  to  his 
honour  in  the  church  of  St.  Bavon  such  a  candle  as  the  fat 
of  twenty  sheep  would  not  suffice  to  make.  And  my  prayers 
were  not  in  vain.  Sire,  for  suddenly  a  hole  opened  in  the 
ceiling  above  my  head,  a  living  flame  and  a  celestial  perfume 
filled  the  room,  a  sack  came  down  through  the  hole,  a  man 
clothed  in  white  followed  the  sack,  walked  in  the  air  to  my 
bed,  pulled  down  the  sheets  which  covered  me,  and  in  the 
twinkling  of  an  eye  put  me  in  the  sack  and  drew  the  strings 

149 


Fle7nish  Legends 

tight  round  my  neck.  And  then,  behold  the  miracle  !  No 
sooner  was  I  wrapped  about  with  this  good  hemp  than  a 
genial  warmth  passed  through  me,  my  ulcers  dried  up,  and 
the  lice  all  perished  suddenly  with  a  terrible  noise.  After 
that  the  man  told  me  with  a  smile  about  the  hemp  of  heaven 
and  the  angelic  beans,  and  finished  his  discourse  by  saying  : 
'  Keep  safe  this  remedy,  'tis  sent  thee  by  my  master  St. 
Joseph.  Whosoever  shall  use  it  shall  be  cured  of  all  ills  and 
saved  for  all  eternity,  if  in  the  meantim.e  he  do  not  sell  his 
soul  to  the  devil !  '  Then  the  man  went  away.  And  what 
the  good  messenger  told  me  was  true,  for  by  means  of  this 
sack  from  heaven,  I  cured  Toon,  my  workman,  of  the  king's 
evil ;  Pier  of  fever.  Dolf  of  scurvy,  Hendrik  of  the  phlegm, 
and  a  score  of  others  who  owe  it  to  me  that  they  are  still 
alive." 

When  Smetse  had  finished  his  speech  the  devil-king 
seemed  lost  in  deep  reflection,  then  suddenly  lifted  his  eyes 
to  heaven,  joined  his  hands,  crossed  himself  again  and  again, 
and,  falling  to  his  knees,  beat  upon  his  breast,  and  with  most 
lamentable  cries  prayed  as  here  follows  :  "  Ah,  my  Master 
St.  Joseph,  sweet  Lord,  blessed  saint,  immaculate  husband 
of  the  Virgin  without  stain,  you  have  deigned  to  make  whole 
this  smith,  and  he  would  have  been  saved  by  you  for  all 
eternity  had  he  not  sold  his  soul  to  the  devil.  But  I,  Master, 
I,  a  poor  king,  who  pray  to  you,  do  you  disdain  to  make  me 
whole  also,  and  to  save  me  as  you  would  have  saved  him  ? 
You  know  well,  sweet  Lord,  how  I  devoted  my  life,  my 
person,  my  goods  and  those  of  my  subjects  to  the  defence 
of  our  blessed  religion  ;  how  I  hated,  as  is  right,  the  freedom 
to  believe  other  things  than  those  which  are  ordained  for 
us  ;  how  I  combated  it  by  steel,  stake,  and  live  burial ;  how 
I  saved  in  this  wise  from  the  venom  of  reform  Brabant, 
Flanders,  Artois,  Hainault,  Valenciennes,  Lille,  Douai, 
Orchies,  Namur,  Tournai,  Tournaisie,  Mahnes,  and  my  other 
lands.  Nevertheless  I  have  been  thrown  into  the  fires  of 
hell,  and  there  suffer  without  respite  the  unutterable  torment 


THE  DEVIL-KING  AND  THE  SACK 


Smetse  Smee 

of  my  consuming  ulcers  and  my  devouring  vermin.  Ah, 
will  you  not  make  me  whole,  will  you  not  save  me  ?  You 
are  able,  my  Master.  Yes,  you  will  perform-  again  for  the 
sorrowing  king  the  miracle  which  saved  the  smith.  Then 
shall  I  be  able  to  pass  into  paradise,  blessing  and  glorifying 
your  name  through  centuries  and  centuries.  Save  me.  Master 
St.  Joseph,  save  me.     Amen." 

And  the  devil-king,  crossing  himself,  beating  his  breast, 
and  babbling  paternosters  turn  by  turn,  rose  to  his  feet  and 
said  to  Smetse  :   "  Put  me  in  the  sack,  smith." 

This  Smetse  did  gladly,  rolled  him  into  the  sack,  leaving 
only  his  head  thrust  out,  drew  tight  round  his  neck  the  stout 
cords,  and  placed  the  devil  on  an  anvil." 

At  this  spectacle  the  workmen  burst  out  laughing,  clap- 
ping their  hands  together,  and  saying  a  hundred  merry  things 
to  one  another. 

"  Smith,"  asked  the  devil,  "  are  these  Flemings  laughing 
at  me  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Sire." 

"  What  are  they  saying,  smith  ?  " 

"  Oh,  Sire,  they  are  saying  that  horses  are  caught  by 
means  of  corn  ;  dogs  by  liver  ;  asses  by  thistles  ;  hogs  by  swiU  ; 
trout  by  curdled  blood  ;  carp  by  cheese  ;  pike  by  gudgeon  ; 
and  a  humbug  of  your  kidney  by  tales  of  false  miracles." 

"  Ho,  the  traitor  smith,"  howled  the  devil,  grinding  his 
teeth,  "  he  has  taken  in  vain  the  name  of  my  Master  St. 
Joseph,  he  has  lied  without  shame." 

"  Yes,  Sire." 

"  And  thou  wilt  dare  to  beat  me  as  thou  didst  Jacob 
Hessels  and  my  faithful  duke  ?  " 

"  Even  more  heartily.  Sire.  Nevertheless  'tis  only  if  you 
so  wish  it.  You  shall  be  set  free  if  you  please.  Free  if  you 
give  me  back  the  deed  ;  beaten  if  you  are  fixed  in  your  idea 
of  carrying  me  off  to  hell." 

"  Give  thee  back  the  deed  !  "  roared  the  devil,  "  I  would 
rather  suffer  a  thousand  deaths  in  a  single  moment." 

151 


Fle^nish  Lege72c/s 

"'  Sire  King,"  said  Smetse,  "  I  pray  you  to  think  of  your 
bones,  which  seem  to  me  none  too  sound  as  it  is.  Consider 
also  that  the  opportunity  is  a  good  one  for  us  to  avenge  on 
your  person  our  poor  Flanders,  so  drenched  in  blood  at  your 
hands.  But  it  displeases  me  to  pass  a  second  time  where 
has  passed  already  the  wrath  of  the  very  just  God.  So  give 
me  back  the  deed  ;  grace,  Sire  King,  or  'twill  begin  raining 
presently." 

"  Grace  !  "  said  the  devil,  "  grace  to  a  Fleming  !  perish 
Flanders  rather  !  Ah,  why  have  I  not  again,  one  single  day, 
as  much  power,  armies,  and  riches  as  I  will ;  Flanders  would 
give  up  her  soul  quickly.  Then  famine  should  reign  in  the 
land,  parching  the  soil,  drying  up  the  water-springs  and  the 
life  of  plants  ;  the  last  ghostly  inhabitants  of  the  empty 
towns  would  wander  like  phantoms  in  the  streets,  killing  one 
another  in  heaps  to  find  a  little  rotten  food  ;  bands  of 
famished  dogs  would  snatch  newborn  children  from  their 
mothers'  withered  breasts  and  devour  them  ;  famune  should 
lie  where  had  been  plenty,  dust  where  had  been  towns,  crows 
where  had  been  men  ;  and  on  this  earth  stripped  naked, 
stony,  and  desolate,  on  this  burial-ground,  I  would  set  up  a 
black  cross  with  this  inscription  :  Here  lies  Flanders  the 
heretic,  Philip  of  Spain  passed  over  her  breast  !  " 

So  saying  the  devil  foamed  at  the  mouth  with  wrath,  but 
scarce  were  his  last  words  cold  from  his  lips  when  all  the 
hammers  and  bars  in  the  smithy  fell  on  him  at  once.  And 
Smetse  and  his  workmen,  striking  in  turn,  said  :  "  This  is 
for  our  broken  charters  and  our  privileges  violated  despite 
thine  oath,  for  thou  wast  perjurer. 

"  This  is  for  that  when  we  called  thee  thou  didst  not  dare 
come  into  our  land,  where  thy  presence  would  have  cooled 
the  hottest  heads,  for  thou  wast  coward. 

"  This  is  for  the  innocent  Marquess  of  Berg-op-Zoom, 
whom  thou  poisoned  in  prison,  so  that  his  inheritance  might 
be  thine  ;  and  for  the  Prince  of  Ascoly,  whom  thou  madest 
to  marry  Dona  Eufrasia,  in  child  by  thy  seed,  so  that  his 
152 


Smetse  Smee 

wealth  might  enrich  the  bastard  that  was  coming.  The 
Prince  died  also,  like  so  many  others,  for  thou  wert  poisoner 
of  bodies. 

"  This  is  for  the  false  witnesses  paid  by  thee,  and  thy 
promise  to  ennoble  whomever  would  kill  Prince  William  for 
money,  for  thou  wast  poisoner  of  souls." 

And  the  blows  fell  heavy,  and  the  king's  crown  was 
knocked  off,  and  his  body,  like  the  duke's,  was  no  more  than 
a  hotch-potch  of  bones  and  flesh,  without  any  blood.  But 
the  workmen  went  on  with  their  hammering,  saying  : 

"  This  is  for  thine  invention  of  the  Tourniquet,  wherewith 
thou  didst  strangle  Montigny,  friend  of  thy  son,  for  thou 
wast  seeker  of  new  tortures. 

"  This  is  for  the  Duke  of  Alva,  for  the  Counts  of  Egmont 
and  Hoorn,  for  all  our  poor  dead,  for  our  merchants  who 
went  off  to  enrich  England  and  Germany,  for  thou  wast 
death  and  ruin  to  our  land. 

"  This  is  for  thy  wife,  who  died  by  thy  deed,  for  thou 
wast  husband  without  love. 

"  This  is  for  thy  poor  son  Charles,  who  died  without 
any  sickness,  for  thou  wast  father  without  bowels. 

"  This  is  for  the  hatred,  cruelty,  and  slaughter  with  which 
thou  didst  make  return  for  the  gentleness,  confidence,  and 
goodwill  of  our  land,  for  thou  wast  king  without  justice. 

"  And  this  is  for  the  Emperor,  thy  father,  who,  with  his 
execrable  proclamations  and  edicts,  first  sounded  for  our 
land  the  stroke  of  the  evil  hour.  Give  him  a  good  drubbing 
on  our  account,  and  tell  us  thou  wilt  give  back  the  deed  to 
the  haesP 

"  Yes,"  wept  a  melancholy  voice,  coming  from  the  heap 
of  bones  and  flesh,  "  thou  hast  everything,  Smetse,  thou  art 
free." 

"  Give  me  back  the  parchment,"  said  Smetse. 

"  Open  the  sack,"  answered  the  voice. 

"  Ho,"  cried  Smetse,  "  yes,  yes,  indeed,  I  will  open  the 
sack  wide,  and  Master  Philip  will  leap  out  and  take  me  off 

153 


Fle^nish  Legends 

to  hell  with  all  speed.  Oh,  the  good  little  devil !  But  'tis 
not  now  the  time  for  such  high  pranks.  Therefore  I  make 
bold  to  beg  your  Majesty  to  give  me  first  the  parchment, 
which  he  may  without  difficulty  pass  up  through  this  gap 
which  is  between  his  neck  and  the  edge  of  the  sacking." 

"  I  will  not  do  it,"  said  the  devil. 

"  That,"  said  Smetse,  "  is  as  it  pleases  your  subtle 
Majesty.  In  the  sack  he  is,  in  the  sack  he  may  remain  ;  I 
make  no  objection.  Every  man  his  own  humour.  But  mine 
will  be  to  leave  him  in  his  sack,  and  in  this  wise  carry  him 
off  to  Middelburg  in  Walcheren,  and  there  ask  the  prefect 
that  leave  be  given  me  to  build  a  good  little  stone  box  in 
the  market-place  and  therein  to  place  your  Majesty,  leaving 
outside  his  melancholy  countenance.  So  placed  he  will  be 
able  to  see  at  a  close  view  the  happiness,  joy,  and  prosperity 
of  the  men  of  the  reformed  faith  :  that  will  be  a  fine  treat 
for  him,  which  might  be  added  to,  on  feast-days  and  market- 
days,  by  an  unkind  blow  or  two  which  people  would  give 
him  in  the  face,  or  some  wicked  strokes  with  a  stick,  or 
some  spittle  dropped  on  him  without  respect.  You  will  have 
besides.  Sire,  the  unutterable  satisfaction  of  seeing  many 
good  pilgrims  from  Flanders,  Brabant,  and  your  other  blood- 
soaked  countries  come  to  Middelburg  to  pay  back  with  good 
coin  of  their  staves  their  old  debt  to  your  Most  Merciful 
Majesty." 

"  Ah,"  said  the  devil,  "  I  will  not  have  this  shame  put 
upon  me.     Take,  smith,  take  the  parchment." 

Smetse  obeyed,  and  saw  that  it  was  indeed  his  own,  then 
went  and  dipped  it  in  holy  water,  where  it  turned  into  dust. 

At  this  he  was  filled  with  joy  and  opened  the  sack  for 
the  devil,  whose  bones  moved  and  became  joined  again  to 
one  another.  And  he  took  on  again  his  withered  shape,  his 
hungry  vermin,  and  his  devouring  sores. 

Then,  covering  himself  with  his  cloak  of  cloth-of-gold, 
he  went  out  of  the  smithy,  while  Smetse  cried  after  him  : 
"  Good  journey  to  you,  and  a  following  wind,  Master  Philip  !  " 

154 


Smetse  Smee 

And  on  the  quay  the  devil  kicked  against  a  stone,  which 
opened  of  itself  and  showed  a  great  hole,  wherein  he  was 
swallowed  suddenly  up  like  an  oyster. 

XVI.  Wherein  Smetse  beholds  on  the  River  Lys  a  most  mar- 
vellous sight. 

When  the  devil  had  gone  Smetse  was  almost  off  his  head 
with  joy,  and  ran  to  his  wife,  who  had  come  to  the  door  of 
the  kitchen,  and  thumped  her  for  joy,  seized  her,  kissed  her, 
hugged  the  good  woman,  shook  her,  pressed  her  to  him,  ran 
back  to  his  men,  shook  them  all  by  the  hand,  crying  :  "  By 
Artevelde  !  I  am  quits,  Smetse  is  quits  !  "  And  he  seemed 
to  have  a  tongue  for  nothing  else  but  that  he  was  quits  ! 
And  he  blew  in  his  wife's  ear,  into  his  workmen's  faces,  and 
under  the  nose  of  a  bald  and  wheezing  old  cat  who  sat  up 
in  one  corner  and  got  quit  with  him  by  a  scratch  in  the  face. 

"  The  rascal,"  said  Smetse,  "  does  not  seem  glad  enough 
at  my  deliverance.  Is  he  another  devil,  think  you  ?  They 
say  they  disguise  themselves  in  every  kind  of  shape.  Ho," 
said  he  to  the  cat,  who  was  arching  her  back  in  annoyance, 
"  hast  heard,  listened,  and  understood,  devil  cat  ?  I  am 
quit  and  free,  quit  and  franked,  quit  and  happy,  quit  and 
rich  !  And  I  have  made  fools  of  all  the  devils.  And  from 
now  on  I  will  live  gaily  as  becomes  a  quit  smith.  Wife,  I 
will  send  this  very  day  a  hundred  philipdalers  to  Slimbroek, 
so  that  that  poor  sinner  may  also  rejoice  at  Smetse's  quit- 
tance." 

But  his  wife  said  nothing,  and  when  Smetse  went  to  look 
for  her  he  found  her  on  the  stair  with  a  great  bowl  of  holy 
water  in  her  hands,  in  which  she  was  dipping  a  fair  sprig  of 
palm  branch. 

Coming  into  the  smithy  she  began  to  sprinkle  with  the 
palm  her  man  and  the  workmen,  and  also  the  hammers, 
anvils,  bellows,  and  other  tools. 

"  Wife,"  said  Smetse,  trying  to  escape  the  wetting,  "  what 
art  thou  at  ?  " 


Flemish  Lege?ic/s 

"  I  am  saving  thee,"  said  she,  "  presumptuous  smith. 
Dost  verily  think  that,  being  freed  of  devils,  thou  hast  for 
thine  own  the  chattels  that  come  from  them  ?  Dost  think 
that  though  they  have  lost  the  soul  which  was  to  be  their 
payment  they  will  leave  thee  thy  riches.  Ho,  the  good  fool ! 
They  will  come  back  again,  yes  ;  and  if  I  do  not  sprinkle  thee 
with  this  holy  water,  and  myself  likewise,  and  all  thesegoodmen, 
who  knows  with  what  evils  they  may  not  torment  us,  alas  !  " 

And  the  good  wife  was  working  away  with  her  palm- 
branch  when  suddenly  a  great  thunder  rumbled  under  the 
earth,  shaking  the  quay,  and  the  stones  cracked,  the  panes 
shivered  in  the  windows,  all  the  doors  and  casements  in  the 
smithy  opened  of  themselves,  and  a  hot  wind  blew. 

"  Ah,"  said  she,  "  they  are  coming  ;   pray,  my  man  !  " 

And  suddenly  there  appeared  in  the  sky  the  figure  of  a  man, 
naked  and  of  marvellous  beauty.  He  was  standing  in  a  chariot 
of  diamond,  drawn  by  four  flaming  horses.  And  he  held  in  his 
right  hand  a  banner,  whereon  was  written  :  "  More  beautiful 
than  God."  And  from  the  body  of  this  man,  whereof  the 
flesh  shone  brightly,  came  golden  rays  which  lit  up  the  Lys, 
the  quay  and  the  trees  like  sunlight.  And  the  trees  began 
to  sway  and  swing  their  stems  and  branches,  and  aU  the 
quay  seemed  to  roll  like  a  ship  upon  the  sea,  and  thousands 
of  voices  called  out  together  :  "  Lord,  we  cry  hunger  and 
thirst ;   Lord,  feed  us  ;   Lord,  give  us  to  drink." 

"  Ah,"  said  the  good  wife,  "  here  is  my  Lord  Lucifer  and 
all  his  devils  !  " 

And  when  the  voices  had  ceased  the  man  made  a  sign 
with  his  hand,  and  of  a  sudden  the  waters  of  the  Lys  rose 
as  if  God  had  lifted  up  the  river-bed.  And  the  river  became 
like  a  rough  sea  ;  but  the  waves  did  not  roll  on  the  quay, 
but  each  lifted  separately,  bearing  on  its  crest  a  foam  of 
fire.  Then  each  of  these  flames  rose  into  the  air,  drawing 
up  the  water  like  a  pillar,  and  there  seemed  to  poor  Smetse 
and  his  wife  and  the  men  to  be  hundreds  of  thousands  of 
these  pillars  of  water,  swaying  and  foaming. 
156 


Smetse  Sfnee 

Then  each  pillar  took  on  the  form  of  a  fearful  animal,  and 
suddenly  there  appeared,  mingled  together,  striking  and 
wounding  one  another,  all  the  devils  whose  work  was  to 
torment  poor  damned  souls.  There  were  to  be  seen,  crawling 
over  crooked  and  shivering  men's  legs,  monstrous  crabs, 
devouring  those  who  were  servile  in  their  lives.  Near  these 
crabs  were  ostriches  bigger  than  horses,  who  ran  along  flap- 
ping their  wings.  Under  their  tails  they  had  laurel-wreaths, 
sceptres,  and  crowns,  and  behind  their  tails  were  made  to 
run  those  men  who  in  our  world  spent  all  their  time  running 
after  vain  honours,  without  a  care  for  doing  good.  And  the 
ostriches  went  quicker  than  the  wind,  while  the  men  ran 
without  respite  behind  them  in  the  effort  to  get  the  wreaths, 
crowns,  and  sceptres  ;  but  they  could  never  reach  them.  In 
this  way  they  were  led  to  a  treacherous  pond  full  of  loath- 
some mud,  wherein  they  fell  shamefully  and  stayed  stuck 
for  all  eternity,  whilst  the  mocking  ostriches  walked  up  and 
down  on  the  bank  dangling  their  bawbles. 

Among  the  ostriches  were  squadrons  of  many-coloured 
apes,  diapered  like  butterflies,  whose  concern  was  with  miserly 
Jewish  and  Lombard  usurers.  These  men,  when  they  entered 
hell,  looked  round  them  carefully,  screwing  up  their  eyes 
under  their  spectacles,  collected  from  the  ground  divers  rusty 
nails,  old  breeches,  filthy  rags,  buttons  showing  the  wood, 
and  other  old  stuff,  then  dug  a  hole  hastily,  hid  their  treasures 
in  it  and  went  off  to  sit  down  some  way  away.  The  apes, 
seeing  this,  would  leap  on  the  hole,  empty  out  its  content, 
and  throw  it  into  the  fire.  Then  the  misers  would  weep, 
make  lamentations,  and  be  beaten  by  the  apes,  and  at  last 
go  off  to  find  some  more  secret  place,  hide  there  once  again 
their  new  depredations,  and  see  once  again  the  hole  emptied 
and  the  apes  coming  once  again  to  beat  them,  and  so  on  for 
all  eternity. 

In  the  air,  above  the  apes,  soared  eagles,  who  had,  instead 
of  a  beak,  four-and-twenty  matchlock  barrels  firing  together. 
These  eagles  were  called  Royal,  because  their  concern  was 

157 


Flemish  L>ege?ids 

with  conqueror  princes,  who  were  too  fond  in  their  lifetime 
of  the  sounds  of  war  and  cannon.  And  for  their  punishment 
these  matchlocks  were  fired  off  in  their  faces  again  and  again 
throughout  eternity. 

Besides  the  ostriches,  apes,  and  eagles,  reared  up  a  great 
serpent  with  a  bear's  coat,  who  writhed  and  twisted  this  way 
and  that.  He  was  of  great  length  and  breadth,  beyond  all 
measure,  and  had  a  hundred  thousand  hairy  arms,  in  each 
of  which  he  held  an  iron  pike  as  sharp  as  a  razor.  He  was 
called  the  Spaniards'  Serpent,  because  in  hell  it  was  his  task 
to  gash  about  with  his  pikes  without  mercy  all  the  bands  of 
traitor  pillagers  who  had  despoiled  our  good  country. 

Keeping  clear  of  this  serpent  with  great  prudence,  darted 
about  mischievous  little  winged  pigs  whose  tails  were  eels. 
These  tails  were  designed  for  the  perpetual  teazing  of  such 
gluttons  as  came  to  hell.  For  the  pig  would  come  up  to  such  a 
one,  hold  the  eel  close  to  his  mouth,  and,  when  he  tried  to  bite 
it,  suddenly  fly  away  from  him,  and  so  on  throughout  eternity. 

There  were  to  be  seen  also^  marching  up  and  down  in 
their  gorgeous  feathers,  monstrous  peacocks.  Whenever 
some  vain  dandy  came  their  way,  giving  himself  airs  in  his 
fine  clothes,  one  of  these  peacocks  would  go  to  him  and 
spread  its  tail,  as  if  inviting  him  to  pluck  out  a  fine  feather 
for  his  bonnet.  But  as  soon  as  the  dandy  approached  to 
take  his  feather,  Master  Peacock  would  let  fly  in  his  face 
with  filthy  and  evil-smelling  water,  which  spoilt  all  his  fine 
clothes.  And  throughout  eternity  the  dandy  would  try  to 
get  the  feather,  and  throughout  eternity  be  so  swilled  down. 

Among  these  fearful  animals,  wandered  two  by  two  male 
and  female  grasshoppers  as  big  as  a  man,  the  one  playing 
on  a  pipe,  and  the  other  brandishing  a  great  knotted  stick. 
Whenever  they  saw  a  man  who,  in  his  lifetime,  leapt,  by 
cowardice,  from  good  to  evil,  from  black  to  white,  from  fire 
to  water,  always  on  the  side  of  the  strongest,  these  grass- 
hoppers would  go  to  him,  and  one  would  play  the  pipe,  while 
the  other,  leaning  on  his  stick  with  great  dignity,  would 
158 


Smetse  Smee 

say  :  "  Leap  for  God,"  and  the  man  would  leap  ;  "  Leap 
for  the  Devil,"  and  the  man  would  leap  again  ;  "  Leap  for 
Calvin,  leap  for  the  Mass,  leap  for  the  goat,  leap  for  the 
cabbage,"  and  the  man  would  keep  leaping.  But  he  never 
leapt  high  enough  for  the  liking  of  the  grasshopper  with  the 
stick,  and  so  he  was  each  time  belaboured  in  a  most  pitiless 
manner.  And  he  leapt  without  ceasing  and  was  belaboured 
without  respite,  while  the  pipe  made  continual  pleasant  music, 
and  so  on  throughout  eternity. 

Farther  on,  naked  and  lying  on  cloths  of  gold,  silk,  and 
velvet,  covered  with  pearls  and  a  thousand  resplendent  gems, 
more  beautiful  than  the  most  beautiful  ladies  of  Ghent, 
Brussels,  or  Bruges,  lascivious  and  smiling,  singing,  and  play- 
ing on  sweet  instruments,  were  the  wives  of  the  devils. 
These  dealt  out  punishment  to  old  rakes,  corrupters  of  youth 
and  beauty.  To  them  these  she-devils  would  call  out 
amorously,  but  they  could  never  get  near  them.  Through- 
out eternity  these  poor  rakes  had  to  look  at  them  without 
being  able  to  touch  them  even  with  the  tip  of  the  nail  of 
their  little  finger.  And  they  wept  and  made  lamentation, 
but  all  in  vain,  and  so  on  through  centuries  and  centuries. 

There  were  also  mischievous  little  devils  with  drums,  made 
of  the  skins  of  hypocrites,  whose  masks  hung  down  over  the 
drum-case  as  ornament.  And  the  hypocrites  to  whom  they 
belonged,  without  their  skins,  without  their  masks,  in  all 
their  ugliness,  ashamed,  hooted,  hissed,  spat  at,  eaten  up  by 
horrible  flies,  and  followed  by  the  little  devils  beating  their 
drums,  had  to  wander  up  and  down  hell  throughout  eternity. 

It  was  good  to  see  also  the  devils  of  conceited  men.  These 
were  fine  great  leathern  bottles  full  of  wind,  finished  off  with 
a  beak,  at  the  end  of  which  was  a  reed.  These  bottles  had 
eagle's  feet  and  two  good  little  arms,  with  fingers  long  enough 
to  go  round  the  widest  part  of  the  bottle.  When  the  con- 
ceited man  came  into  hell,  saying  :  "  I  am  great,  I  am  grand, 
strong,  beautiful,  victorious,  I  will  overcome  Lucifer  and 
marry  his  dam  Astarte,"  the  leathern  bottles  would  come 

159 


Flemish  Le  ore;?  els 

o 

up  to  him  and  say,  with  a  deep  reverence  :  "  My  lord,  will 
you  be  pleased  to  let  us  speak  a  word  to  you  in  secret,  touch- 
ing your  high  designs  ?  "  "  Yes,"  he  would  say.  Then  two 
bottles  would  stuff  their  reeds  into  his  ears  in  such  a  manner 
that  he  could  not  get  them  out  again,  and  begin  to  press  in 
their  bellies  with  their  long  fingers,  so  as  to  force  wind  into 
his  head,  which  thereupon  swelled  up,  large  and  always 
larger,  and  Master  Self-Conceit  rose  into  the  air  and  went 
off  to  wander  throughout  eternity,  with  his  head  bumping 
the  ceiling  of  hell,  and  his  legs  waving  in  the  air  in  the  efforts 
to  get  down  again  ;   but  all  in  vain. 

Marvellous  devils  were  certain  apes  of  quicksilver,  always 
running,  tumbling,  leaping,  coming,  and  going.  These  devils 
bore  down  on  the  lazy  fellows  who  were  thrown  to  them, 
gave  them  a  spade  to  dig  earth  with,  a  sword  to  polish,  a 
tree  to  trim,  or  a  book  to  con.  The  lazybones  would  look 
at  the  task  set  him,  saying :  "  To-morrow,"  and  would 
stretch  his  arms,  scratching  and  yawning.  But  as  soon  as 
he  had  his  mouth  wide  open  the  ape  would  stuff  into  it  a 
sponge  soaked  in  quintessence  of  rhubarb.  "  This,"  he  would 
say  mockingly,  "  is  for  to-day  ;  work,  slug,  work."  Then, 
while  the  lazybones  was  retching,  the  devil  would  thump 
him,  shake  him  a  hundred  different  ways,  giving  him  no 
more  peace  than  a  gadfly  gives  a  horse,  and  so  on  throughout 
eternity. 

Pleasing  devils  were  pretty  little  children  very  wide- 
awake and  mischievous,  whose  concern  was  to  teach  learned 
orators  to  think,  speak,  weep,  and  laugh  according  to  common 
nature.  And  when  they  did  otherwise  the  little  devils  would 
rap  them  sharply  on  the  knuckles.  But  the  poor  pedants 
could  no  longer  learn,  being  too  heavy,  old,  and  stupid  ;  so 
they  had  a  rap  on  the  knuckles  every  day  and  a  whipping 
on  Sundays. 

And  all  these  devils  cried  out  together  :    "  Master,  we 
are  hungry  ;    Master,  give  us  to  eat,  pay  somewhat  for  the 
good  services  we  render  thee." 
1 60 


Smetse  Smee 

And  suddenly  the  man  in  the  chariot  made  a  sign,  and 
the  good  River  Lys  threw  all  these  devils  on  the  quay,  as 
the  sea  splashes  on  the  shore,  and  they  hissed  loud  and  terribly 
at  landing. 

And  Smetse,  his  wife,  and  the  workmen  heard  the  doors 
of  the  cellars  open  with  a  loud  noise,  and  all  the  casks  of 
bruinbier  came  hissing  up  the  stairs,  and  hissing  across  the 
floor  of  the  forge,  and  still  hissing  described  a  curve  in  the 
air  and  fell  among  the  crowd  of  all  the  devils.  And  so  also 
did  the  bottles  of  wine,  so  also  the  hams,  loaves,  and  cheeses, 
and  so  also  the  good  crusats,  angelots,  philipdalers,  and  other 
moneys,  which  were  all  changed  into  meat  and  drink.  And 
the  devils  fell  over  one  another,  fought,  scrambled,  wounded 
themselves,  forming  only  one  great  mass  of  battling  monsters, 
howling  and  hissing,  and  each  trying  to  get  more  than  the 
others.  When  there  was  left  neither  drop  nor  crumb,  the 
man  in  the  chariot  made  another  sign,  and  all  the  devils 
melted  into  black  water  and  flowed  into  the  river,  where 
they  disappeared.     And  the  man  vanished  from  the  sky. 

And  Smetse  Smee  was  as  poor  as  before,  save  for  one 
little  bag  of  golden  royals,  which  his  wife  had  by  chance 
sprinkled  with  holy  water,  and  which  he  kept,  although  it 
came  from  the  devil.  But  this,  as  you  shall  see,  did  not 
profit  him  at  all.  And  he  lived  with  great  content  until  he 
died  suddenly  one  day  in  his  smithy,  at  the  great  and  blessed 
age  of  ninety-three  years. 

XVII .  Of  Hell,  of  Purgatory,  of  the  long  ladder,  and  finally 
of  Paradise. 

When  he  was  dead  his  soul  had  to  pass  through  Hell  in 
the  guise  of  a  smith.  Coming  thither  he  saw,  through  the 
open  windows,  the  devils  which  had  so  frightened  him  in  the 
vision  on  the  Lys,  and  who  were  now  busy  torturing  and 
tormenting  the  poor  damned  souls  as  terribly  as  they  could. 
And  Smetse  went  to  the  doorkeeper  ;  but  the  doorkeeper, 
on  seeing  him,  howled  out  in  a  most  awful  fashion  :  "  Smetse 

L  i6i 


Flemish  Lege^tds 

is  here,  Smetse  Smee  the  traitor  smith  !  "  And  he  would 
not  let  him  in.  Hearing  the  hubbub,  My  Lord  Lucifer, 
Madam  Astarte,  and  all  their  court  came  to  the  windows, 
and  all  the  other  devils  after  them. 

And  they  all  cried  out  in  fear  : 

"  Shut  the  doors,  'tis  the  enchanted  Smetse,  Smetse  the 
traitor  smith,  Smetse  the  beater  of  poor  devils.  If  he  comes 
in  here  he  will  overset,  spoil,  break  up  everything.  Begone, 
Smetse  !  " 

"  My  masters,"  said  Smetse,  "  if  I  do  indeed  come  hither 
to  look  at  your  snouts,  which  are  not  beautiful  I  promise 
ye,  'tis  not  at  all  for  mv  pleasure  ;  and  besides,  I  am  not  by 
any  means  anxious  to  come  in.  So  do  not  make  such  a 
noise,  master  devils." 

"  Yes,  indeed,  my  fine  smith,"  answered  Madam  Astarte, 
"  thou  showest  a  velvet  pad  now,  but  when  thou  art  within 
thou  wilt  show  thy  claws  and  thine  evil  intention,  and  will 
slay  us  all,  me,  my  good  husband,  and  all  our  friends.  Be 
off,  Smetse  ;    be  off,  Smee." 

"  Madam,"  said  Smetse,  "  you  are  indeed  the  most 
beautiful  she-devil  I  ever  saw,  but  that  is,  nevertheless,  no 
reason  why  you  should  think  so  ill  of  a  fellow-creature's 
intentions." 

"  Hark  to  the  fellow  !  "  said  Madam  Astarte,  "  how  he 
hides  his  wickedness  under  sugared  words  !  Drive  him  away, 
devils,  but  do  him  no  great  harm." 

"  Madam,"  said  Smetse,  "  I  beg  you  to  listen." 

"  Be  off,  smith  !  "  cried  out  all  the  devils  ;  and  they 
threw  burning  coals  at  him,  and  whatever  else  they  could 
find.  And  Smetse  ran  off  as  fast  as  his  legs  would  take 
him. 

When  he  had  travelled  some  way  he  came  before  Purga- 
tory. On  the  other  side  was  a  ladder,  with  this  inscription 
at  its  foot  :   "  This  is  the  road  to  the  good  Paradise." 

And  Smetse,  filled  with  joy,  began  to  climb  the  ladder, 
which  was  made  of  golden  thread,  with  here  and  there  a 
162 


Smetse  Smee 

sharp  point  sticking  out,  in  virtue  of  that  saying  of  God 
which  tells  us  :  "  Broad  is  the  way  which  leadeth  to  Hell, 
strait  and  rough  the  way  to  Heaven."  And,  indeed,  Smetse 
soon  had  his  feet  sore.  Nevertheless,  he  made  his  way 
upward  without  halting,  and  only  stopped  when  he  had 
counted  ten  hundred  thousand  rungs  and  could  see  no  more 
of  either  earth  or  hell.  And  he  became  thirsty.  Finding 
nothing  to  drink  he  became  a  Httle  sullen,  when  suddenly 
he  saw  a  little  cloud  coming  past,  and  drank  it  up  joyfully. 
It  did  not  indeed  seem  to  him  as  good  drink  as  bruinbier, 
but  he  took  consolation  from  the  thought  that  it  is  not 
possible  to  have  comforts  everywhere  alike.  A  little  higher 
up  the  ladder  he  suddenly  had  hard  work  to  keep  his  bonnet 
on  his  head,  by  reason  of  a  treacherous  autumn  wind  which 
was  going  down  to  earth  to  pull  off  the  last  leaves.  And  by 
this  wind  he  was  sorely  shaken,  and  nearly  lost  his  hold. 
After  he  was  out  of  this  pass  he  became  hungry,  and  regretted 
the  good  earthly  beef,  smoked  over  pine-cones,  which  is  so 
good  a  food  for  poor  wayfarers.  But  he  took  heart,  thinking 
that  it  is  not  given  to  man  to  understand  everything. 

Suddenly  he  saw  an  eagle  of  terrible  aspect  coming  upon 
him  from  the  earth.  Thinking  for  certain  that  he  was  some 
fat  sheep,  the  eagle  rose  above  him  and  would  have  dropped 
on  him  like  a  cannon-ball ;  but  the  good  smith  had  no  fear, 
bent  to  one  side  and  caught  the  bird  by  the  neck,  which  he 
wrung  subtly.  Then,  still  going  up,  he  hastened  to  pluck  it. 
ate  morsels  of  it  raw,  and  found  them  stringy.  Nevertheless, 
he  took  this  meat  with  patience,  because  he  had  no  other. 
Then,  patiently  and  bravely,  he  climbed  for  several  days  and 
several  nights,  seeing  nothing  but  the  blue  of  the  sky  and 
innumerable  suns,  moons,  and  stars  above  his  head,  under 
his  feet,  to  right,  to  left,  and  everywhere.  And  he  seemed 
to  be  in  the  midst  of  a  fair  great  globe,  whereof  the  inner 
walls  had  been  painted  this  fair  blue,  strewn  with  all  these 
suns,  moons,  and  stars.  And  he  was  frightened  by  the  great 
silence  and  by  the  immensity. 

163 


Flemish  Legends 

Suddenly  he  felt  a  genial  warmth,  heard  sweet  voices 
singing,  distant  music,  and  the  sound  of  a  city  toiling.  And 
he  saw  a  town  of  infinite  size  girt  about  with  walls,  over 
which  he  could  see  housetops,  trees,  and  towers.  And  he 
felt  that  he  was  moving  more  quickly  despite  his  own  legs, 
and  by  and  by,  leaving  the  last  rung  behind,  he  set  foot 
before  the  gate  of  the  town. 

"  By  Artevelde  !  "  said  he,  "  here  is  the  good  Paradise." 

And  he  knocked  on  the  gate  ;  St.  Peter  came  to  open  to 
him. 

Smetse  was  somewhat  frightened  at  the  gigantic  appear- 
ance of  the  good  saint,  his  great  head  of  hair,  his  red  beard, 
his  large  face,  his  high  forehead,  and  his  piercing  eyes,  with 
which  he  looked  at  him  fixedly. 

"  Who  art  thou  ?  "  quoth  he. 

"  Master  St.  Peter,"  said  the  smith,  "  I  am  Smetse  Smee, 
who  in  his  lifetime  lived  at  Ghent  on  the  Quai  aux  Oignons, 
and  now  prays  you  to  let  him  enter  your  good  Paradise." 

"  No,"  said  St.  Peter. 

"  Ah,  my  master  !  "  said  Smetse  most  piteously,  "  if  'tis 
because  in  mv  lifetime  I  sold  mv  soul  to  the  devil,  I  make 
bold  to  tell  you  that  I  repented  most  heartily,  and  was 
redeemed  from  his  power  and  kept  nothing  that  was  his." 

"  Excepting  a  sackful  of  royals^''''  said  the  saint,  "  and 
on  that  account  thou  shalt  not  come  in." 

"  Master,"  said  the  smith,  "  I  am  not  so  guilty  as  you 
suppose  ;  the  sack  stayed  in  my  house  because  it  had  been 
blessed,  and  for  that  reason  I  thought  I  might  well  keep  it. 
But  take  pity  on  me,  for  I  knew  not  what  I  was  doing.  I 
pray  you  also  to  deign  to  consider  that  I  come  from  a  far 
country,  that  I  am  greatly  tired,  and  would  gladly  rest  in 
this  good  Paradise." 

"  Be  off,  smith,"  said  the  saint,  who  was  holding  the  door 
a  crack  open. 

Meanwhile  Smetse  had  slipped  through  the  opening,  and 
taking  ofi  his  leathern  apron  sat  down,  saying  : 
164 


Smetse  Smee 

"  Master,  I  am  here  rightfully,  you  cannot  turn  me  out." 
But  St.  Peter  bade  a  troop  of  halberdier  angels  who  were 
near  at  hand  drive  him  away  :   and  this  the  halberdier  angels 
did  with  great  dispatch. 

Thereafter,  Smetse  did  not  cease  to  beat  on  the  door  with 
his  fists,  and  lamented,  wept,  and  cried  out  :  "  Master,  have 
pity  on  me,  let  me  in,  my  master  ;  I  repent  of  all  the  sins  I 
have  committed,  and  even  the  others  as  well.  Master,  grant 
me  permission  to  enter  the  blessed  Paradise.  Master  .  .  ." 
But  Master  St.  Peter,  hearing  this,  put  his  head  over  the 
wall  : 

"  Smith,"  said  he,  "  if  thou  wilt  persist  in  this  uproar, 
I  shall  have  thee  sent  to  Purgatory." 

And  poor  Smetse  held  his  peace,  and  sat  down  on  his 
seat,  and  so  passed  sad  days,  watching  others  enter. 

In  this  wise  a  week  went  by,  during  which  he  lived  on 
a  few  scraps  of  bread  which  were  thrown  to  him  over  the 
wall,  and  on  grapes  gathered  from  a  sour  vine  which  grew 
on  the  outer  face  of  the  wall  of  Paradise  in  this  part. 

And  Smetse  was  most  unhappy,  leading  this  idle  existence. 
And  he  sought  in  his  head  for  some  work  or  other  which 
would  gladden  him  somewhat.  Having  found  it,  he  shouted 
as  loud  as  he  could,  and  St.  Peter  put  his  head  over  the 
wall. 

"  What  wilt  thou,  Smetse  ?  "  said  he. 
"  Master,"  answered  the  smith,  "  will  you  be  pleased  to 
let  me  go  down  to  earth  for  one  night,  so  that  I  may  see  my 
good  wife  and  look  to  my  affairs  ?  " 

"  Thou  mayst,  Smetse,"  answered  St.  Peter. 

XVIII.  Wherein  it  is  seen  why  Smetse  was  whipped. 

It  was  then  All  Saints'  Eve  ;  bitter  was  the  cold,  and 
Smetse's  good  wife  was  in  her  kitchen,  brewing  some  good 
mixture  of  sugar,  yolk  of  Qgg,  and  bruinbier,  to  cure  her  of 
an  evil  catarrh,  which  had  lain  upon  her  ever  since  her  man 
died. 

165 


Flemish  Legends 

Smetse  came  and  knocked  at  the  window  of  the  kitchen^ 
whereat  his  wife  was  greatly  frightened. 

And  she  cried  out  sadly  :  "  Do  not  come  and  torment 
me,  my  man,  if  'tis  prayers  thou  wilt  have.  I  say  as  many 
as  I  can,  but  I  wall  say  more  if  need  be.  Wilt  thou  have 
masses  said  ?  Thou  shalt  have  them,  and  prayers  and  in- 
dulgences likewise.  I  will  buy  them,  my  man,  I  promise 
thee  ;    but  go  back  quickly  whence  thou  camest." 

Nevertheless  Smetse  went  on  knocking.  "  'Tis  not  masses 
or  prayers,"  said  he,  "  that  I  want,  but  shelter,  food,  and 
drink,  for  bitter  is  the  cold,  rude  the  wind,  sharp  the  frost. 
Open,  wife." 

But  she,  on  hearing  him  speak  thus,  prayed  the  more 
and  cried  out  the  louder,  and  beat  her  breast  and  crossed 
herself,  but  made  no  move  to  open  the  door,  saying  only  : 
"  Go  back,  go  back,  my  man  ;  thou  shalt  have  prayers  and 
masses." 

Suddenly  the  smith  discerned  an  open  window  in  the 
attic.  He  climbed  up  and  entered  the  house  by  that  means, 
went  down  the  stair,  and,  opening  the  door,  appeared  before 
his  wife  ;  but  as  she  kept  drawing  back  before  him  as  he 
advanced,  crying  out  and  calling  the  neighbours  at  the  top 
of  her  voice,  Smetse  stood  still  so  as  not  to  frighten  her 
further,  sat  down  on  a  stool,  and  said  : 

"  Dost  not  see_,  mother,  that  I  am  indeed  Smetse,  and 
wish  thee  no  harm  ?  " 

But  his  wife  would  listen  to  nothing  and  crept  back  into 
a  corner.  Thence  with  her  teeth  a-chatter,  and  her  eyes 
open  wide,  she  made  a  sign  to  him  to  leave  her,  for  she  could 
no  longer  find  her  tongue,  by  reason  of  her  great  fear. 

"  Wife,"  said  the  smith  in  friendly  tones,  "  is  it  thus  that 
thou  givest  greeting  and  welcome  to  thy  poor  husband,  after 
the  long  time  he  has  been  away  ?  Alas,  hast  forgot  our  old 
comradeship  and  union  ?  " 

Hearing  this  soft  and  joyous  voice  she  answered  in  a  low 
tone  and  with  great  timidity  : 
i66 


Smetse  Smee 

"  No,  dead  master." 

"  Well  then,"  said  he,  "  why  art  thou  so  afraid  ?  Dost 
not  know  thy  man's  fat  face,  his  round  paunch,  and  the 
voice  which  in  former  days  sang  so  readily  hereabout  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  she  said,  "  I  know  thee  well  enough." 

"  And  why,"  said  he,  "  if  thou  knowest  me,  wilt  not  come 
to  me  and  touch  me  ?  " 

"  Ah,"  said  she,  "  I  dare  not,  master,  for  'tis  said  that 
whatever  member  touches  a  dead  man  is  itself  dead." 

"  Come,  wife,"  said  the  smith,  "  and  do  not  believe  all 
these  lying  tales." 

"  Smetse,"  said  she,  "  will  you  in  good  truth  do  me  no 
hurt  ?  " 

"  None,"  said  he,  and  took  her  by  the  hand. 

"  Ah,"  she  said  suddenly,  "  my  poor  man,  thou  art  cold 
and  hungry  and  thirsty  indeed  !  " 

"  Yes,"  said  he. 

"  Well  then,"  said  she,  "  eat,  drink,  and  warm  thyself." 

While  Smetse  was  eating  and  drinking  he  told  his  wife 
how  he  had  been  forbidden  the  door  to  Paradise,  and  how 
he  designed  to  take  from  the  cellar  a  full  cask  of  bruinbier 
and  bottles  of  French  wine,  to  sell  to  those  who  went  into 
the  Holy  City,  so  that  he  might  be  well  paid,  and  with  the 
money  he  received  buy  himself  better  food. 

"  This,  my  man,"  she  said,  "is  all  very  well,  but  will 
Master  St.  Peter  give  thee  permission  to  set  up  at  the  gates 
of  Paradise  such  a  tavern  ?  " 

"  Of  that,"  he  said,  "  I  have  hope." 

And  Smetse,  laden  with  his  cask  and  bottles,  went  his 
way  back,  up  towards  the  good  Paradise. 

Plaving  reached  the  foot  of  the  wall  he  set  up  his  tavern 
in  the  open  air,  for  the  weather  is  mild  in  this  heavenly  land, 
and  on  the  first  day  all  who  went  in  drank  at  Smetse's  stall, 
and  paid  him  well  out  of  compassion. 

But  one  or  two  became  drunk,  and  entering  Paradise  in 
this  state,  set  Master  Peter  inquiring  into  the  cause  of  it  ; 

167 


Flemish  Legends 

and  having  found  it  out  he  enjoined  Smetse  to  stop  his  selling, 
and  had  him  whipped  grievously. 

XIX.  Of  the  fair  judgment  of  My  Lord  Jesus. 

Not  long  afterwards  the  good  wife  died  also,  by  reason 
of  the  terror  that  had  seized  hold  of  her  at  the  sight  of  her 
man's  ghost. 

And  her  soul  went  straight  towards  Paradise,  and  there 
she  saw,  sitting  with  his  seat  against  the  wall,  the  poor 
Smetse  in  a  fit  of  melancholy  brooding.  When  he  saw  her 
he  jumped  up  with  great  joy,  and  said  : 

"  Wife,  I  will  go  in  with  thee." 

"  Dost  thou  dare  ?  "  said  she. 

"  I  will  hide  myself,"  said  he,  "  under  thy  skirt,  which 
is  wide  enough  for  us  both,  and  so  I  shall  pass  without  being 
seen." 

When  he  had  done  this  she  knocked  on  the  door,  and 
Master  St.  Peter  came  to  open  it.  "  Come  in,"  he  said, 
"  good  wife."  But  seeing  Smetse's  feet  below  the  hem  of 
the  skirt  :  "  This  wicked  smith,"  he  cried,  "  will  he  always 
be  making  fun  of  me  ?     Be  off,  devil-baggage  !  " 

"  Ah,  my  master,"  said  she,  "  have  pity  on  him,  or  else 
let  me  stay  out,  too,  to  keep  him  company." 

"  No,"  said  Master  St.  Peter,  "  thy  place  is  here,  his  is 
outside.     Come  in  then,  and  let  him  be  off  at  once." 

And  the  good  wife  went  in  while  Smetse  stayed  outside. 
But  as  soon  as  the  noonday  hour  came,  and  the  angel  cooks 
had  brought  the  good  wife  her  beautiful  rice  pudding,  she 
went  to  the  wall  and  put  her  head  over  it. 

"  Art  thou  there,"  she  said,  "  my  man  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  he. 

"  Art  thou  hungry  ?  "  she  said. 

"  Yes,"  said  he. 

"  Well  then,"  she  said,  "  spread  thy  leathern  apron  ;    I 
will    throw   thee   the  pudding  which   has   just    been   given 
me." 
i68 


Smeise  Smee 

"  But  thou,"  said  he,  "  wilt  thou  eat  nothing  ?  " 

"  No,"  said  she,  "  for  I  have  heard  it  said  that  there  is 
supper  by  and  by." 

Smetse  ate  the  rice  pudding,  and  was  suddenly  filled  with 
comfort,  for  the  pudding  was  more  succulent  and  delicious 
than  the  finest  meats  of  the  earth.  Meanwhile  his  wife  went 
off  to  walk  about  in  the  good  Paradise,  and  afterwards  came 
back  to  Smetse  to  tell  him  what  she  had  seen. 

"  Ah,"  she  said,  "  my  man,  'tis  a  most  beautiful  place. 
Would  that  I  could  see  thee  within  !  Round  about  My  Lord 
Jesus  are  the  pure  intelligences  who  discuss  with  him  what- 
ever is  goodness,  love,  justice,  knowledge,  and  beauty,  and 
also  the  best  means  of  governing  men  and  making  them 
happy.  Their  speech  is  like  music.  And  all  the  while  they 
keep  throwing  down  to  earth  the  seeds  of  beautiful,  good, 
just  and  true  thoughts.  But  men  are  so  wicked  and  stupid 
that  they  tread  underfoot  these  fair  seeds  or  let  them  wither 
away.  Farther  on,  established  in  their  several  places,  are 
potters  and  goldsmiths,  masons,  painters,  tanners  and  fullers, 
carpenters  and  shipbuilders,  and  thou  shouldst  see  what  fine 
work  they  do,  each  in  his  own  trade.  And  when  they  have 
made  some  progress  they  cast  down  the  seed  of  that  also 
towards  the  earth,  but  'tis  lost  oftentimes." 

"  Wife,"  said  Smetse,  "  didst  see  no  smiths  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  she. 

"  Alas,"  said  he,  "  I  would  gladly  be  working  alongside 
them,  for  I  am  ashamed  to  be  sitting  here  like  a  leper,  doing 
nothing  and  begging  my  bread.  But  listen,  wife ;  since 
Master  St.  Peter  will  not  let  me  in,  go  thou  and  ask  grace 
for  me  from  My  Lord  Jesus,  who  is  kind  and  will  let  me  in 
for  certain." 

"  I  go,  my  man,"  said  she. 

My  Lord  Jesus,  who  was  in  council  with  his  doctors, 
saw  her  coming  towards  him.  "  I  know  thee,  good  wife," 
said  he  ;  "  thou  wast  in  thy  lifetime  wedded  to  Smetse  the 
smith,  who  entreated  me  so  well  when,  in  the  guise  of  a  little 

169 


Flemish  Legends 

child,  I  came  down  to  earth  with  Master  Joseph  and  Madam 
Mary.     Is  he  not  in  Paradise,  thy  good  man  ?  " 

"  Alas,  no.  My  Lord  !  "  answered  she,  "  my  man  is  at 
the  door,  most  sad  and  out  of  heart,  because  Master  St. 
Peter  will  not  let  him  in." 

"  Why  is  that  ?  "  said  My  Lord  Jesus. 

"  Ah,  I  cannot  tell,"  said  she. 

But  the  angel  w^ho  writes  down  the  faults  of  men  in  a 
record  of  brass,  speaking  suddenly,  said  :  "  Smetse  cannot 
enter  Paradise,  for  Smetse,  delivered  from  the  devil,  kept 
devil's  money." 

"  Ah,"  said  My  Lord  Jesus,  "  that  is  a  great  sin  ;  but 
has  he  not  repented  of  it  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  the  good  wife,  "  he  has  repented,  and,  more- 
over, he  has  been  all  his  life  good,  charitable,  and  com- 
passionate." 

"  Go  and  find  him,"  said  My  Lord  Jesus,  "  I  will  question 
him  myself." 

Two  or  three  halberdier  angels  ran  to  obey  him,  and 
brought  Smetse  before  the  Son  of  God,  who  spoke  in  this 
wise  : 

"  Smetse,  is  it  true  that  thou  didst  keep  devil's  money  ?  " 

"  Yes,  My  Lord,"  answered  the  smith,  whose  knees  were 
knocking  together  with  fear. 

"  Smetse,  this  is  not  good,  for  a  man  should  rather  suffer 
every  ill,  pain,  and  anguish,  than  keep  the  money  of  one 
who  is  wicked,  ugly,  unjust,  and  a  liar,  as  is  the  devil.  But 
hast  thou  no  meritorious  deed  to  tell  me,  to  mitigate  this 
great  sin  ?  " 

"  My  Lord,"  answered  Smetse,  "  I  fought  a  long  while 
beside  the  men  of  Zeeland  for  freedom  of  conscience,  and, 
doing  this,  suffered  with  them  hunger  and  thirst." 

"  This  is  good,  Smetse,  but  didst  thou  persist  in  this  fair 
conduct  ?  " 

"  Alas,  no.  My  Lord  !  "  said  the  smith,  "  for,  to  tell  truth, 
my  courage  lacked  constancy,  and  I  went  back  to  Ghent, 
170 


Smetse  Smee 

where,  like  so  many  another,  I  came  under  the  Spanish 
yoke." 

"  This  is  bad,  Smetse,"  answered  My  Lord  Jesus. 

"  My  Lord,"  wept  the  good  wife,  "  none  was  more 
generous  than  he  to  the  poor,  kind  to  every  one,  charitable 
to  his  enemies,  even  to  the  wicked  Slimbroek." 

"  This  is  good,  Smetse,"  said  My  Lord  Jesus  ;  "  but  hast 
thou  no  other  merit  in  thy  favour  ?  " 

"  My  Lord,"  said  the  smith,  "  I  have  always  laboured 
with  a  good  heart,  hated  idleness  and  melancholy,  loved  joy 
and  merriment,  sung  gladly,  and  drunk  with  thankfulness 
the  bruinbier  which  came  to  me  from  you." 

"  This  is  good,  Smetse,  but  it  is  not  enough." 

"  My  Lord,"  answered  the  smith,  "  I  thrashed  as  soundly 
as  I  could  the  wicked  ghosts  of  Jacob  Hessels,  the  Duke  of 
Alva,  and  Philip  II,  King  of  Spain." 

"  Smetse,"  said  My  Lord  Jesus,  "  this  is  very  good.  I 
grant  thee  leave  to  enter  my  Paradise." 


UNIFORM  WITH  "  FLEMISH  LEGENDS  » 

THE  LEGEND  OF  TYL  ULENSPIEGEL 

BY  CHARLES  DE  COSTER 

Translated  by  Geoffrey  Whitworth.     With   20  Woodcuts   by 
Albert  Delstanche.     7s.  6d.  net 

SOME  PRESS  OPINIONS 

"  Tyl  Ulenspiegel  is  not  yet,  in  most  English  households,  an 
old  friend.  Yet  we  believe  that  the  fellow  will  soon  make  his  brave 
and  humorous  way  into  the  friendship  of  old  and  young.  And  the 
twenty  full-page  woodcuts  with  which  M.  Albert  Delstanche  has 
illustrated  this  edition  will  help  the  friendship  on.  All  the  heartiness, 
the  ruggedness,  the  fun,  and  the  gloom  of  one  tragic  period  in  the 
history  of  a  homely  and  much-enduring  people  are  expressed  through 
the  eye  to  the  mind  by  M.  Delstanche's  knowledge  and  skill." — The 
Times. 

"  An  excellent  translation  has  brought  a  notable  example  of 
modern  Belgian  literature  within  the  reach  of  readers  in  this  country. 
Taking  as  his  central  figure  the  scampish  Tyl  Ulenspiegel,  already  in 
the  sixteenth  century  a  traditional  personage,  De  Coster  produced  a 
remarkable  reconstruction  of  Flemish  life  in  the  days  of  Spanish 
oppression  and  of  the  famous  '  Beggars  '." — Scotsman. 

"  On  the  large  scale,  the  obvious  work  of  a  master,  a  man  who  knew 
sorrow  but  who  loved  to  share  the  mirth  and  good  living  of  his  feUows, 
mocked  impostors  wherever  he  found  them,  and  had  a  hatred  of  cruelty 
and  injustice  that  is  like  lightning.  It  is  one  of  the  rare  books,  full 
of  sad  laughter  and  warm  understanding,  of  the  order  of  '  Don 
Quixote'." — The  Nation. 

"  It  is  a  happy  thought  which  has  brought  out  Mr.  Geoffrey  Whit- 
worth's  version  of  '  The  Legend  of  Tyl  Ulenspiegel '  now  ...  for 
the  description  of  it  as  the  '  national  epic  of  Flanders  '  has  much 


more  meaning  than  such  phrases  usually  have.  .  ,  .  And  all  the 
adventures  of  Tyl  and  his  friends  have  this  quality  of  reality  in  fairy- 
land, whether  they  are  grotesque  or  tragic.  The  book  has  tragedy  in 
it  to  balance  its  boisterous  comedy,  but  the  two  are  combined  in  a 
style  whose  generosity  and  exuberance  make  their  union  complete 
and  satisfactory.  It  is  a  great  book  indeed.  Mr.  Whitworth  is  to 
be  congratulated  on  his  excellently  easy  and  vivid  translation  ;  and 
the  woodcuts  of  M.  Albert  Delstanche  are  all  exceedingly  impressive 
and  many  exceedingly  beautiful." — Land  and  Water. 

"  It  is  hardly  too  much  to  say  that  De  Coster's  book  is  a  work  of 
pure  genius.  ...  At  such  a  moment  as  the  present  no  publication 
could  be  more  timely  than  this  EngUsh  version  of  what  will  inevitably 
rank  as  a  great  epic  of  Belgian  nationality.  .  .  .  For  the  rest,  we 
have  only  to  compliment  the  pubHshers,  the  translator,  and  the 
illustrator  upon  their  joint  efforts  to  present  a  fine  work  in  a  worthy 
and  acceptable  form." — The  Guardian. 

"  The  illustrator's  bold  and  luminous  drawings  certainly  catch 
the  bluff  spirit  of  Charles  de  Coster's  quaint  masterpiece,  in  which  the 
transition-age  between  mediaevalism  and  modernity  lives  again  so 
grimly,  so  shrewdly,  so  humorously.  Here  there  is  a  suitable  gift- 
book  for  all  who  love  to  travel  in  the  highways  of  world-literature." — 
Morning  Post. 

"  It  is,  of  course,  for  adults  and  not  for  children,  with  its  grim 
horrors  and  its  full-blooded  jollity.  What  we  have  learnt  to  call  the 
soul  of  a  people  is  in  it — the  spirit  of  Flanders.  The  force  of  De  Coster's 
style  loses  nothing  in  Mr.  Geoffrey  Whitworth's  translation,  and 
there  are  admirable  illustrations  cut  on  the  w^ood  by  M.  Albert  Del- 
stanche."— Daily  Telegraph. 

"  A  most  remarkable  volume." — Glasgow  Herald. 

"  Reading  it  for  the  first  time  in  Mr.  Whitworth's  admirable 
English  version,  one  is  amazed  at  first  that  it  has  not  been  rendered 
previously.  De  Coster  will  never  require  another  English  version, 
and  this  one  book  of  '  glorious  adventures  '  is  aureole  enough  to  ensure 
his  place  on  the  great  hierarchy  of  literature." — The  Bookman. 


-^ 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY, 
BERKELEY 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 

STAMPED  BELOW 

Books  not  returned  on  time  are  subject  to  a  fine  of 
50c  per  volume  after  the  third  day  overdue,  increasing 
to  $1.00  per  volume  after  the  sixth  day.  Bii'il^  not  in 
demand  may  be  renewed  if  iiniiiUnrillTlB  ^jj  lIUll  before 
expiration  of  loan  period.    '[•^C-^^ 


[id 


30  '68  -\o  ^^A 


OCT 


17  is^n 


OCT  r  5  1975 


uoaH 


0&^' 


ttdCliL  rnisTs 

iOV    419815  8 
ica.  era.    f^'AY  1 5 1981 

JAN    61986 

RECErVED  BY 

DEC  6    ^^^ 


20wi-l,'22 


50023. 


/ 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


GENEBAL  LIBRARV  ■  U.C  BERKELEY 


BDQ0132b01 


